turn of the peoprété Rongelap. The body levels of the unexposed_peaple who returned to the island also increased, becoming indistinguishable from those of the originally exposed group. However, the levels remain well below the maximum permissible limits. Analvses of bone samples on one of theymen who died showed3.7 strontrum-90 units, g complete or lost in most instances, and vital statisucs are therefore inadequate. Trust Territory officials are nowattempting to assemble such data. 3 There is uncertainty on the part of some of the Marshallese as to their exact ages, particularly among the older group. This imposes certain difhcu.ues In interpreting some ofthe studies to be calcium. ourlined. ¢ OTHER STUDIES COMPARISON POPULATIONS Other studies have been carried out on the Rongelap people which are not directlyrelated to radiation effects. An intensive intestinal parasite survey showed that the people were infected with many types of protozoa and helminths. This fnding did not entirely account for the generally high incidence of eosinophilia. Other findings that need further explanation are the genera! anemic tendencies, the high plasma protein levels with increased gamma globulin, and the higher than normal levels of serum protein-bound iodine and vitamin B,,. Another investigation is concerned with genetic studies and determination of the anthropological background of the Marshallese from genetically determined traits. Among the traits studied were blood groups and hemoglobin and haptoglobin types. The results shed somelight on the origin of these people and the homogeniety of the population. Their blood groups resemble most closely those of the people from Southeast Asia and Indonesia, and the population appears to be relatively homogeneous. During the first 2 vears, two separate groups of Marshallese people were used for comparison, each of comparable size to the exposed Rongelap group and matched for age and sex. However, this population was found to be unstable, with a large attrition rate over the 2 years, which madeit unsatisfactory. At the time of the 3-vear survey, it was found that during the preceding 12 months the Rongelap population at Majuro Acoll had doubled because ofthe influx of relatives who had come back from other islands to live with them. These people had been away from Rorfgelap Atoll at the time of the accidental exposure, This y * x group matched reasonablywell for age and sex and was of comparable size. Since the return of the people to Rongelap, however, this group has DIFFICULTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE EXAMINATIONS As mentioned in previous reports, several difficulties were associated with carrying out the examinations as well as interpreting the findings. 1. The language barrier made examinations difficult, since very little English is spoken by the about doubled in size. Since the people are of the same stock genetically, they are uniquely appropriate to serve as a comparison popuiation and have, therefore, been used since 1937. 1959 Survey BACKGROUND MATERIAL Organization For the 1959 survey, 5 years after the accident, the medical team consisted of seven physicians, one dentist, two scientific specialists, and nine data on the Marshallese imposed a serious difhculty in interpretation and evaluation of the medical data. Records ofbirths, deaths, etc.. have been made by the health aides or magistrates of the vil- technicians from various institutions and laboratories in the United States. Several Marshallese practitioners and interpreters assisted in carrying out the examinations. A group of five scientists from the University of Washington, headed by Dr. E.E. Held, accompanied the group to collect soil, marine, and plant samples for radiochemical analysis. These studies are not includedin this report. ministrator; however, such records have been in- members of the team visited Majuro to examine Marshallese. However, there were sufficient English-speaking Marshallese to assist the medical team in most instances. . 2. The lack of vital statistics or demographic lages and supposedlyforwarded to the district ad- Prior to the main survey on Rongelap, several