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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
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OBJECTIVES
Project 4.1 was organized with the following specific objectives:
(1) To evaluate the severity of the radiation injury in the human beings expused io the fallout radiation.
(2) To provide for all necessary medical care for these individuals
(3) To conduct a scientific study of radiation injury in human beings.
1.2
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THEEXPOSED GROUPS
Shot 1 of Operation CASTLE was detonated on 1 March 1954. Following the detonation significant amounts of radioactive materials fell on the following populated neighboring atolls:
(1) Rongelap, (2) Ailinginae, (3) Rongerik, and (4) Ulirik. Exposure groups are identified according to their geographical location at the time of exposure, The numbersof individuals involved, their location, the distance of the atoll on which they were located from the site of the
detonation on Bikini, the calculated dose of radiation, the probable time of bevinning of the fallout and its duration are tabulated in Table 1.1. The Rongelap group received the highest calculated dose. These individuals were living underrelalively primitive conditions in lightly constructed palm houses (Fig. 1.1).
The Ailinginae people were a part of the Roneeclap vroup who
were on their Ailinginae farms from the time the fallout began to the time of evacuation, Their
calculatecdl dose was smaller than that of the other membersof their eroup that had remained
on Rongelap. The third and largest group of Marshallese, inhabitants of the atoll of Utirik,
received the smallest dose of radiation.
The American military personnel exposed on Rongerik were aware of the significance of
fallout and promptly put on additional clothing to protect the skin. As far as dulies would permil, they remained inside of Butler-type buildings. In contrast, most of the native Marshallese
remained out of doors and thus were more heavily contaminated by the material fatlings on the
atolls.
Some of the Marshallese, however, went swimming during the fallout and many of the
children waded in the water; thus washing a considerable amount of the material from their
skins.
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1.3
EWVACUA TION AND EARLY CARI:OFTHE EXPOSED GROUPS
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2 March,
The American mililary personnel were cyacuated to Kwajalein via air in two rreaups on
t
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The native Marshallese were evacuated by 2 combination cf air and surface lLrans-
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