Historical Development
Bikini Atoll was one area used by the U.S. government to test
nuclear weapons from 1946 to 1958.

Prior to commencement of the test-

ing program, all Bikini Atoll inhabitants were moved first to
Rongerik Atoll and then finally to Kili Island.

On March 1, 1954 a

thermonuclear device, code named Bravo, was detonated at Bikini
Atoll.

The radioactive cloud from this test moved eastward depositing
fallout on several of the Northern Marshall [sland Atolls:

Bikini

Atoll (all Marshallese inhabitants had been moved), Rongelap with 64
people, Ailingnae with 18 people, Rongerik with 28 people, and Utirik
with 157 people.

The Japanese fishing boat Fukurju - Maru (Lucky

Dragon) with 23 fisherman aboard was also contaminated (CO 75).
The exposure of individuals to radioactive fallout 6 to 24

hours post detonation of “Bravo" resulted in external total body
gamma dose equivalents ranging from 20 to 200 rem (CO 75).

This

incident initiated the involvment of R. A. Conard et al. who for the
past 24 years has been responsible for the ongoing medical surveillance of the inhabitants living on the contaminated atolls, those
Marshallese who were initially exposed to the fallout and have moved,

and to a control Marshallese population.
The medical history acquired by R. A. Conard included total
body burden measurements of radioactive material inhaled or ingested
by the Marshallese.
63, CO 75).

This work was performed by S. Cohn et al. (CO

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