An unexpected wind shift during the 1954 test carried ‘the fallout from Bikini at the western end of the Marshall islands over several islands located east of Bikini. Nearest and most heavily exposed were 64 Marshallese at Rongelap. There werealso 18° Marshallese at Ailingnae and 157 at Utirik receiving a much lesser exposure. These people are exainined on a regular schedule. To provide a comparison with the exposed populace, a control grouv of about 200 unexposed Marshallese is also examined, but On a less frequent schedule. There were 19 children in the Rongelap vopulation under ‘the age of 10 at the time of exoosure. The estimated dose to their thyroids was from 500 to 1400 rads. Seventeen of these children have developed thyroid abnormalities and some show growth retardation. Fifteen of tne children have been oper- ated on for thyroid nodules, including the case found to be malignant this month. This is the first time a malignant thyroid condition has developed in the Rongelap group who were exposed as children. According to Dr. Conard, the children show a higher incidence of thyroid abnormalities because their thyroid glands were smaller and probably received a larger conparative radiation dose. . There were six children wtnder 10 years on Ailingnae. They received from 275-600 rads. The 40 children on Utirik in the same age group received thyrctd doses from 55 to 125 racs. There has been no development of abnormalities in elther group. The selection of age 10 as a group Gesignation Gid not occur until a few years ago and was done primarily as a result of statistical observations. The Roncelap inhabitants who were over 10 years at the time of exposure received a thyroid dese estimated at 355 rads. Eignt per cent Geveloped thyroid abnormalities. The exposed adult populations on Utirik and Ailingnae, like the unexpesed control popuiation, has had a low incidence of thyroia epnormalities, probably normal, the size of their populations. statistically, for In total, four malignant thyroid conditions have been found, three of them from the Rongelap population. Of those, two were adults and one was a child at tne time of exposure. Tne fourth case, the adult patient from Utirik treated this. year, is not believed to be related to radiation exposure. The term rad means radiation absorbed dose. i i 5 i 4 (more) | . Hd