DRAFT
Late 1972
MEDICAL
39
c
RADIATION
According to urine bioassays from people coming to and going from Bikini
Island, cesium'’” concentration shows an increase by a factor of four over 1970
results and strontium™ levels increase by a factor of two.
The T.T. begins a program of sending monthly shipments of food to Bikini.”
A Rongelap male dies of carcinoma of the stomach. This may be related to
radiation exposure, according to BNL
A physician from BNL is stationed in the Marshall Islands as a resident
physician. His responsibilities include monitoring the thyroid treatment program;
visiting
Rongelap, Utirik, and Bikini Atolls every
three to four months; and assisting
the T.T. medical services with the care of Rongelap and Utirik patients at the hospitals
at Ebeye and Majuro.”*
1973
ADMINISTRATION
CONTRACTOR
RADIATION
A Radiological Assessment Review Group (RARG), organized by the director,
DBER, reviews the adequacy and sufficiency of the Enewetak radiological survey data
in order to oversee evaluations of the survey. Members are not directly involved in
the actual survey. These members are N. F. Barr, DBER, Chair, T. F. McCraw,
AEC/DOS; B. Shleien, PHS; C. L. Weaver, EPA; RB. Leachman, DOD; P. F.
Gustafson, ANL; C. R Richmond, LASL; and A. H. Seymour, University of
Washington.””
Urine bioassays from people coming and going from Bikini Island show
cesium’in urine higher than in 1970 by a factor of about ten and an increase in
strontium” by a factor of four. This information is provided as testimony during
House Appropriations Committee hearings in spring 1978.
report 50424, September 1975.7"
It is taken from a BNL
14 Feb 73 _
RADIATION
Field operations of the Enewetak radiological survey are completed.”
21 Mar - 12 Apr 73
CONTRACTOR
MEDICAL
Conard of BNL and his team conduct the annual medical survey. No new
cases of leukemia or blood disorders are discovered. New thyroid abnormalities are
detected, including three which might be related to the 1954 fallout and three that
are probably unrelated. The thyroid nodules in all but one case are scheduled to be
removed surgically in Cleveland within several weeks.**
11 Apr 73
LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY
Micronesian P.L. 5-52 provides for certain care and benefits to the people of
Rongelap and Utirik Atolls exposed to the 1 March 1954 H-bombtest fallout; “for
care and benefits to certain other people from Rongelap and Utirik, and for other
purposes." The high commissioner of the T.T. is directed to "seek an executive
agreementwith the Atomic Energy
Commission whereby expenses incurred under the
provisions of this act will be defrayed ... by the Atomic Energy Commission." In
9004394