Addendum . A NOTE ON THE VEGETATION OF THE NORTHERN ISLETS OF RONGELAP ATOLL, MARSHALL ISLANDS, MARCH 1959 B.S. BLUMBERG * AND R.A. CONARD e e Fosberg’* reported changesin the vegetation of the northernislets of Rongelap Atoll (observed in 1956) which he inferred might have been associated with the radioactive fallout that occurred on this atoll in 1954. During the medical survey of the Rongelap people? carried out in March 1959, and to re-examine the vegetation. A helicopter was available for transportation, which permitted general and detailed air examination as well as two short ground surveys. The northernislets were estimated to have received a radiation dose of = 3000 r. Theislets of Naen and Gegen were examined in greatest detail. The most striking fea- an Opportunity arose to visit some of these islets ture observed from the air was the generally gray color of much of the vegetation, in contrast to its *National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. | LOMUILAL J... | “"GEJEN !. GE , o o© 6 166° 40° € 167° € ee page OS gee BE “ae OMAEN | te te 0ANIELAP 1%we aes “6. S ee KABELLE |. 0). vs i RONGELAP ATOLL i | be WEST." PASS if is 2 al 11? 20° .N o 1 2 39 4 " aa OPO! GEBELLe |. «, v a Up , 11° 20°.N a § N ! ENIAETOK |. B a ar NAUTICAL MILES 7 74. if + a: ors g: y“Sn MELLU I. 58.: 4: vi, “fyBUROK I y Dara & I 4 166° 50° ey PA)& 17° 10° N o S z 0: &S Lt ot * Qe | “a ot rt Sa, 166° 40° E as = TH PASS PA Re > SF SOUTH ARBAR I. T 167° E RONGELAP |. Figure A-1. Map of Rongelap Atoll showing position of majorislets. 85 Tt? 10° N