or * ~ ro | SUMMARY OF THE 20TH POST EXPOSURE MEDICAL SURVEY OF . 410806 THE RONGELAP AND UTIRIK PEOPLE The twenty year survey was highlighted by several special examinations and the use for the first time of an LCU newly acquired by the AEC for medical and radiological surveys in the Marshall Islands. In addition to routine medi- cal examinations several special medical studies were conducted, a thyroid reserve study and a diabetic and genetic study. Radiological surveys including personnel monitoring by y-spectroscopy and environmental radiation studies were carried out at Utirik, Rongelap and Bikini. Results of these examinations must be considered quite preliminary at this time. The survey team consisted of 19 members: from the U. S. - 4 M.D.'s, 2 P.H.D.'s and 7 technical specialists; from the Trust Territory 1 M.D., 1 practitioner, 1 Medex and 3 technicians. Also Mr. William Streenan from the AEC and Mr. John Rosario representing the Congress of Micronesia accompanied the team. On the LCU there were 8 men in the crew plus a cook and as assistant making a total of 31 people on the ship. Medical examinations were conducted on a total of about 500 people at Majuro March 18-23, at Ebeye (Kwajalein) March 25-29; then via LCU to Utirik April 1-3, Rongelap, April 5-10 and Bikini, April 11-15. A roster of team personnel is attached. Village meetings were held at Utirik and Rongelap during which the objectives of the survey were discussed, team members introduced and questions answered. The meeting at Utirik was pleasant and uncomplicated, but the Rongelap meeting was disappointing in that there were questions presented by the Rongelap Fallout Survivors Association which indicated continued misunder- standing about the medical examinations and results. A transcript of this village meeting is attached. It appears that there must have been outside influence in presenting the questions since the people could not have read our reports, those of the medical observers or the Congress of Micronesia since they have not been translated into Marshallese. Further education of the people is necessary and a booklet written in Marshallese is being prepared by the Trust Territory which will help answer many of their questions. Support of the medical surveys voiced last year at Rongelap by Senator Borja and Congressman Balos needs further reinforcement by these congressmen. SURVEY FINDINGS Thyroid. Two additional exposed Rongelap people were found to have thyroid nodules, one in a 45-year old woman exposed on Ailingnae Island (whole body gamma dose eStimated at 69 rads) and in a 20-year old boy who was exposed in-utero near the end of the second trimester. The latter case is interesting since this is the first thyroid abnormality developing in any of the four inThere was also one unexposed 41-year old Rongelap DOE ARCHIVES Uy utero exposed children.