BEST COPY AVAILABLE
AG 24
MEDICAL SURVEY REPORT TO THE UNITED NATICNS'
GROUP ON THE STATUS OF THE RONCELAP PEOPLE
Majuro, Me Tes March 1956
fe
On March 1, 195, following experimental detonation of a thermo-
nuclear device in the Pacific, several inhabited islands were accidentally
irradiated with fallout.
Tnis was the same accident in which the Japanese
fisherman were irradiated. The fallout material, a white powdery material,
fell most heavily on Rongelap atoll, about 100 miles from the detonatim
and to a lesser extent on islands firther away.
The people on these
islands were irradiated fron the fallout by three routes:
1.
Penetrating
radiatioM (gamma) from the ground, trees and houses, resulted in whole
wla
dation; 2. Skin contamination, with fallout resulted in snotty
localized irradiation of the skin and scalp; and 3. Internalcontamination
eccurred from ingesting of contaminated food and brea
aliocu
material. The island zgrouns and extent of involvement was as follows:
GROUP
PERSONS INVOLVED
FOLDER
Rongerik
Utirik
Marshallese
17> roentgens
18 Marshallese
69 roentgens
28 Americans
1S7 Marshallese
78 romtgens
1 roentgens
DEGREE OF
SEIN COITAMINATICN
“Extensive
Less extensive
Slicht
None (measurable)
sAAD
cc Ten,
The above veonle were all evacuated to <wajalein where they were cared
for and stidied extensively for several months. The Utirik people who
had only the most minimal signs (blood effects) of radiation effects were
moved back to their homes on Utirike
COLLECTION
\IUFI-&
fU
ooa
Toya —
BOX No.
ongeiar
Ronvelap veople on
Ailingnas
EsTIMATED
PENETRATING DOSE
The American servicement who alse
showed only minimal effects were returned to duty shortly afterward. The
more heavily exnosed Yongelap people were moved to Ejit Island in Majuro
Atoll for further care and study. The following facts concern this latter
grow «
About 2/3 of the Soncelap group exverienced nausea during the first
2hels8 hours after the datonation and a few vomited and had diarrhea which
was believed due to the penetrating radiation exposure. A large number
experienced itching and burning of the skin, and a few of the eyes, which
was delieved due to the irradiation of the skin. Following this, the veople
were free of any complaints until about 2 weeks later when skin lesions
developed.
le
The results of the three types of radiation were as follows:
Penetrating
- (175 roentgens - a chest x-ray gives about
Gas Foontaens) « Effects were manifest only om the blood elements
as follows:
(a)
White Slood Cells (which protect the body against infectim)
were depressed to about SO¢ of normal by about the 6th week.
(o)
Platelets(which keep the body from bleeding spontaneously)
were devressed to about 30% af normal by the 4th week. These
blood elements have gradually recovered to normal range at
subsequent studies at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years.
[1822498