The 1968 Annual Medical Survey of the Rongelap People Exposed to Fallout in 1954
Interim Report
The 1968 annual medical survey of the Rongelap people who had
been exposed to fallout radiation in 1954 was carried out in March 14
years after exposure.
Since this an "off year survey" only the exposed
Rongelap people were given complete examinations.
However any unexposed
Rongelap people who had complaints were examined and treated.
inations were carried out at Rongelap, Ebeye, and Majuro.
6 of the exposed people were examined
not readily accessible.
The exam-
All but about
They were on outlying atolls and
Utirik atoll was also briefly visited for the
purpose of a thyroid check of the people there
A number of Utirik people
had received a slight exposure to fallout in the 1954 accident.
The medical team consisted of 1 practitioner,
1 photographer,
and 2 technicians from the Trust Territory, and 4 doctors and 2 technicians
from the United States
Transportation from Kwajalein to Rongelap, Utirik
and back to Kwajalein was via the Ralik Ratak, a cargo ship run by a local
trading company.
The ship proved very unsatisfactory for transportation
of personnel since it was overcrowded, unclean and with no adequate accommo-
dations for the team.
Moreover many of the group became seasick.
Offloading
and loading of survey equipment was handled reasonably well by the ship.
The
trip to Majuro was made from Kwajalein by plane.
Interval Health Status.
Interrogation of the health aide and examination
of medical records indicated that during the past year the Rongelap people
had been generally in good health.
There were no major epidemics of disease