By 1957, radiological surveys indicated that, in spite of slight lingering radioactivity, Rongelap Atoll was safe for habitation. A completely new village was constructed, and in July the Rongelap people, more than doubled in number bytheinflux of relatives, were taken there on an LST with all their personal belongings, bed mats, andlivestock. After arrival ceremonies they happily settled downto life in their new village. In March 1958 the survey was carried out for the first time at Rongelap; subsequent annual examinations have been done mostiv at Rongelap with supplementary visits to otherislands. The Utirik people, after the initial examinations, were next examined on their homeisland in 1957. They have since been examined only about once every 3 years because their fallout exposure was minimal. The American servicemen have not been seen by our medical team since the initial examinations. During recent vears the Rongelap and Utirik people have moved in large numbers to the district centers at Majuro and particularly Ebeye (Kwajalein Atoll), where many are employed by the Kwajalein Missile Range. This had necessitated examinations at Majuro and Ebeyein addi- tion to their homeislands. (Table | shows the present geographicaldistribution of the people.) The many studies that have been doneon the Marshallese are directly or indirectly related to possible radiation effects. Often a single blood sample drawn for routine hematology has been used for any tests. Multiple blood sampling has been avo. .cd wheneverpossible. C. 1970-1974 SURVEYS During the past 5 years a numberof problems have arisen: thyroid abnormalities continued to develop in the exposed Rongelap peoplein spite of hormone treatment; an exposed Rongelap boy died from leukemia that may or maynot have been related to radiation exposure; transportation deteriorated; and political interference was started which has been particularly frustrating and has threatened to put a stop to the medical supervision and care provided to the exposed people by the medical team. In 1972, following the death from leukemia, the decision was made that more frequent hematological examinations of the exposed people were needed, and therefore such examinations werein- stituted every Septemberin addition to the March survey. Also in 1972, the decision was madeto place a resident physician in the Marshall Islands. An increasing number of exposed Rongelap peuple were developing thyroid nodules, most of which required surgical intervention, and manvof them were not adhering strictly to the thyroid treatment program, which is considered extremely important. especially after surgery. A resident physician would be able to monitor this program and, since the Trust Territory was short on medical personnel. could assist in general health care of the Rongelap and Utirik people. The planis for such a physician to alternate between BNL and the Marshall Islands every two years. Thefirst one has just completed a 2-year term, and anotheris taking his place soon. Transportation has always been a major prob- lem for the medical survey teams. Air transportation to the Pacific improved greatly with the advent of thejet plane, but travel by ship amongthe Mar- shall Islands (several hundred miles between atolls through rough seas) has remained difficult. The travel problem has been magnified by the need for the resident physician to visit Rongelap and Curik quarterly, and by the added responsibility of the medical team, since 1971, for radiation monitoring of Bikini and morerecently of Eniwetok, since the people displaced by the bomb testing program are Table 1 Location of Rongelap and Utirik People, 1974 Rongelap exposed Rongelap unexposed Utirik exposed Total Rongelap Utirik 31 - - 68 37 ~ Majuro 5 Ebeye Bikini 24 ~ 22 i 41 14 43 65 41 62 7 Other 6 Total 66 - 8 10 131 7 24 313 116