Dr. Conard explained that the reason the thyroid gland
received a much larger Gose than the whole body is Lecause of
-a process called selective absorption by the thyroid of radio-
active iodine from food and water ingested by the Marshallese
following the fallout.
awe
a
wo
.
The five Marshall Islancers arrived at Brookhaven National
Laboratory on August 26, where they were carefully and thoroughly
examined, including whole body counts which were normal.
In
-
rar
*
addition to Dr.
Brown Dobyns,
who performed the surcery,
other
consultants included Dr. Shields Warren and Dr. William A.
Meissner,
both with the Cancer Rescareh Hospital,
Deaconess Hospital, Boston; Dr. J.
New England
Edward Rall and Dr. Jaco)
Robbins, both with the National Institutes of Health; and Dr.
Bentley Colcock, Leahy Clinic, Boston; and Dr. John D. Reid,
Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital.
ode
A
an
4,
4
"
Accompanying the five patients to this country was Dr.
Ezra Riklon, practitioner from the Marshall Islands which are
under the jurisdiction of the Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands.
Dr. Riklon participated in the examinations and
consultations and was present in the operating room for all
wd.
operations.
Upon return to the Marshall Islands he will super-
vise the thyroid hormone treatment of all people who were
exposed.
It is hoped that the thyroid hormone treatment will
not only prevent the development of further malignancies, but
also help overcome the growth retardation in the children who
have shown it.
Dr. Conard noted that some enhancenent of
:
wp
growth hes
a
OT,
taken place since
the
treatment was
started in 1965.
Generally, the exposed population is in good health and
good spirits.
Over the years a number of deaths have occurred,
but none were attributed to the fallout or its effects.
.
Dr. Gonard noted that the 1969 examination
.
was the 15th
post-exposure year in which the Atomic =nergy Coma ission's
Division of Biology and Medicine has examined and carec for
the exposed Marshallese people.
The surveys are carried out
jointly with the Nedical Department of the Trust Territory of
the Pacific Islands.
The results of these examinations ere
reported regularly to the scientific and medical coxzmunities.
Inc.
(AUI)
for
the
U.
S.
*
Brookhaven National Laboratory is operated by ZAssocizste
Universities;
Atomic Energy Commission.
~
AUI is a national, nonprozit research management organization
sponsored by Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Johns Hovokins, Massa-
chusetts Institute of Technology,
Pennsylvania, Princeton,
Rochester and Yale Universities.
.
:
a
In 1956, AUI established and
currently operates for the National Science Founéation the
National Radio Astronomy Observatory with facilities in Green
Bank, West Virginia; Charlottesville, Vircinia;
-
Arizona.
°
|
|
th
.
.
|
-
and Kitt Peak,
OE ARCHIVES
: