ARR ES tere ee wee te ee es ys glands were smaller and received a larger comparative radiation dose, The estimated dose to the thyroid in the 19 children under 10 years of age on Rongelap was from 500 to 1400 rads, Seventeen have developed thyroid abnormalities, and some show growth retardation, but no other sign of the late effects of being exposed, Two of these children are essentially normal, For the 45 Rongelap people older than 10 years of age at exposure time, the thyroid dose was estimated at 355 rads, with eight percent developing thyroid abnormalities, Six children under 10 years of age on Ailingnae received 275-600 rads and 40 children on Utirik received thyroid doses from 55 to 125 rads, with no development of any abnormalities, The exposed adult population on Utirik and the control population had a low incidence of thyroid abnormalities, probably of normal statistical incidence for the size of the population, The term rad means radiation absorbed dose, A dose of one rad means the absorption of 100 ergs of radiation energy per gram of absorbing material, : \ Dr, Conard explained that the reason the thyroid gland received a much . larger dose than the whole body is because of a process called selective. absorption by the thyroid of radioactive iodine from food and water ingested by the Marshallese following the fallout, (more)