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1970
Preliminary Remarks Concerning the 1970 Annual Medical Survey in the
Marshall Islands
The annual medical survey of the Rongelap people accidentally exposed
to radioactive fallout in 1954 was carried out in March, 16 years after
the accident.
In spite of rough seas and difficult travel on a small
cargo ship we visited the Atolls of Bikini, Rongelap, Utirik, Kwajalein
(Ebeye) and Majuro for examination purposes.
A brief stop was made at Bikini. There are 25 Bikini people comprising
a labor force who are there for rehabilitation purposes (planting coconut
trees, etc.)
Im regard to our responsibilities of monitoring the Bikini
people related to the low level of radiation in the environment, we
obtained pooled urine samples on the group there and several specimens
of coconut crabs for radiochemical analyses. These samples are being
sent to the Health and Safety Laboratory of NYOO for analysis for 90sr,
37cg and Pu.
Unfortunately a water sample from the well behind the
camp which we collected was broken. However a similar sample had been
obtained from this well and was taken to Las Vegas for analysis.
Last year at Kili 12 urine sample were collected on Bikini people.
All of these showed only low levels of 137¢s and 29sr as expected.
Since for several years it appears that only small groups of
Bikini people will be at Bikini on a rotating basis for several months
_at a time we believe that occasional checks of urine, water, crabs, etc.
are all that is necessary at this time. When sufficient numbers of
people have returned for a more permanent stay on the island more comprehensive
such as whole body gamma spectroscopy will be carried out. Plans are
being formulated for such examinations.
exam
I was somewhat concerned about the collection of metal scrap,
mostly brass and copper, I believe, which the Bikinians are collecting
to sell, They were making piles of it in the open,since we did not ‘have
instruments for measuring radioactivity with us I warned them against
piling too much scrap in one place.
If any of the scrap is radioactive
perhaps the AEC could buy those pieces from the natives.
I have already
mentioned this problem verbally to some of you.
It was encouraging that no new cases of thyroid nodularity were
detected in the exposed Rongelap or Utirik people.
One 20 year old
exposed Rongelap female who had a partial thyroidectomy in 1964 and
had not been seen for several years due to the fact that she lived on
an outlying island was the cause of some concern. She showed an increase
in the size of her thyroid remnant. In view of the development of 3
cases of cancer of the thyroid in the Rongelap people serious consideration
is being given to having this girl returned to the United States for study
and possible further surgery. Of the 82 exposed people of Rongelap, 66
are now living and of these 21 have developed thyroid abnormalities, 19
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DOE ARCHIVES
ML