.
4
Would it be correct to say that we can exoect many more cases
problems in the future?
.
° thyroid
.
Ac this time it is impossible to predict whether more thyroid nodules
will develop in the Utirik population.
It is therefore of the greatest
detected early,
:
By having
regular medical exeminations, signs of thyroid cissese
o
o
a
importance that the regular medical examinations b2 continued in the future.
and prompt treatment will avoid unnecessary sufferin
ng on
+
wat
+t
Tha ~d)
a
the
part ofco the
Vhirik people,
_VWhy is there not a control group in Utirik?
a} The people of Utirik are different from the people of Rongelep-—they
are a different gene pool and breeding vonulatione
b) The people of Utirik were exposed to different levels of radiation
then
the people of Rongelap---Utirik had 1; rads, and Rongelap had 175 rads
In conducting the medical examinations on the Marsnallese,
e@ comparison
(control) group was selected so that the exposed and non-exposed people couid
be compared.
This comparison group was selected in 1958 from the
unexposed people of Rongelap.
A separate unexposed group of comparison
people from Utirik was not considered necessary since the Pongelap group
was considered adequate for comparison with both the peoples of Rongalap and
Utirik.
.
7
The slight genetic difference between the two exposed populations
and aif ferences in doses received were not considered sufficient reasons
to select a separate comparison group for Utirik.
qu 50) 685i