AO S431 Dr. C. L. Dunham, Director Division of Biology add Medicine Sept. 18, 1956 Morse Salisbury, Director Division of Infor mation Services REVIEW OF MEDICAL SURVEY OF MARSHALLESE TWO YEARS POST EXPQSURE TO FALLOUT RADIATION "Lecnposs_EResposte)— Folde Séll . A&C -Fcon Relste,wships Box Pur comments are as follows: Page 6, footnote -- proup or the $ince ‘‘these Marshallese br not these Did the infants’ deaths occur among the Rongelap control group? The footnote does not makethis clear, pregnancies’’ apparently refers both to the exposed and to the control group. Also, can it be stated whether deaths appeared to have any connection with the radiation xposure of the parents ? Page,6, reference to adult death -- Technically, this should not appear n this report, since the death occurred after the end of the reporting eriod. However, we see no objection to including the reference, he death has been public reported, and its omission from the report ight raise questions among correspondents. | | | Collection OGm \RG___sAOMMISSION- US DOF ARCHEVES 326 U.S. ATOMIC ENERGY SYMBOL: LSP:DG Page 9 - We are not qualified to determine the statistical signifi- canceof the differences in weight and height between the exposed children and the control] group. However, considering the normal variations among children, nine exposed children and nine controls seems a very small number on which to base even ‘‘an indication of trend.’’ The material on this page could be used as a basis for newspaper headlines to the effect that ‘Radiation Stunts Marshallese Children.’’ We recommend careful consideration of whether the data are adequate to support the discussion on page 9. Page 36, last sentence, continuing to page 37 -- This sentence states that “‘The cause of death could not bedirectly correlated with radiation effects.’’ Does this mean that there was an indirect correlation? If not, we suggest that the sentence be omitted. With these comments taken into account, the Division of Information Services has no objection to issuance of the report. If you obtain reprints, we should like to have about 25 copies. The report is returned herewith, P