B. Issues 1. It is medically impossible to distinguish in any particular individual whether a disease complex or symptom is radiation related or not. Epidemiological studies over time on groups of people can establish increased incidences of particular problems, but this evidence is not particularly helpful in deciding specific causation in any individual. The peoples of Bikini, Enewetok, Rongelap and Utirik are now living on approximately one half of the 26 atolls/islands in the Marshalls. This migration and resulting intermarrying is rapidly spreadina those individuals with "direct" radiation effects throughout the Marshalls. With the groups resident among the large pop- ulations on Majuro and Ebeye, well over 75% of the total Marshallese population has people from the four affected atolls living among them. This means that even the narrowest interpretation of P. L. 96-205 will require health care to be provided far beyond the four atolls themselves. Preferential treatment for those individuals with "direct" effects will tend to continue the arquments of those not included that they were also affected. The anecdotal stories of people on ships in the fallout area who should be included, as well as other groups, already abound. It appears that the refutation of these numer- ous claims may require considerable energy and cost in the future, if the advantage of inclusion is significant. The indirect effects are also a matter of considerable discussion. Foodstuffs from affected atolls are shipped elsewhere, fish and other sealife may carry radiation from one area to another, second and third generation offspring of affected people may have