N-4A
The following letter is from Dr. W. H. Adams of Brookhaven National
National Laboratory to Dr. Roger Ray of DOE.
21us
July 18, 1985
Hr. Roger Ray
Deputy for Pacific Operations
Nevada Operations Office
Department of Energy
P.O. Box 14100
Las Vegas, NV
89114
Dear Roger:
In view of the recent evacuation of Rongelap, which appears to have been:
precipitated by concern about harmful residual radloactivity on the atoll], we
have reviewed our medica] records to see if there is any clinical evidence
that supports thls conclusion and course of action.
Since 1957 an unexposed population of Narshallese of Rongelap ancestry
has been examined perlodically by the Urcokhaven medical team. This
population (the Comparison group) is similar in age and sex distribution to
the exposed people of Rongelap. The reason for examination of the unexposed
group has been to obtain baseline incidences of diseases in the general
Marshallese population as an aid in detection of previously unidentified
radiation hazards which might affect the exposed group.
Collected data on the unexpused people are sufficient to assess the
effect of residence on Rongelap (since 1957) on longevity, thyroid neoplasia,
and blood counts. We have done a retrospective analysis of their medical
records; 133 of the group are living and 54 are deceased. We have arbitrarily
selected for analysis the following divisions of years of residence on
Rongelap:
Short-term
«= <3 years (average, 1.0 years)
Intermediate = 4 = 14 years (average, 7.5 years)
Long-tera
- >15 years (average, 20.9 years)
The place of residence for a given year {is defined as the place where an
individual] recelved his medica] examination. Since there Is considerable
migration of Marshallese among the atolls, the site of examination may not
elways be the same as the site of residence.
be a good correlation between the two.
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Overall, however, there should