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UNITED STATES
ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.
408382
20545
- SEP g 2 1969
\
Mr. Edward J. Bauser
Executive Director
Joint Committee on Atomic Energy
Congress of the United States
Dear Mr. Bauser:
We wish to report the latest information concerning the medical status
of the Marshallese exposed to the fallout from the March 1, 1954, test
at Bikini.
Diagnoses made by Dr. Robert Conard of Brookhaven National Laboratory
at his annual medical reexamination this spring prompted bringing five
Marshallese and an interpreter stateside for definitive treatment.
They arrived week before last, received their preoperative medical
work-up at the Medical Center of Brookhaven National Laboratory, and
transferred to the Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital for surgery
by Dr. Brown Dobyns.
Details of the present status of the affected Marshallese are shown in
the following tabulation which recapitulates past medical thyroid
disorders,
1.
Young Rongelapese exposed to fallout March 1,
1 to & years of ege,
(Estimated dose:
600 to 1400 rem internal irradiation.)
1954, when they were
175 rads external gamma plus
*-
1.
2,
Total
-
19
Currently normal by clinical and biochemical tests,
2 (11%)
Currently hypothyroid with minimal nodularity.
Responding satisfactorily to oral thyroid hormone
therapy.
3,
3 (164)
Have undergone surgery in the U. S, because of
nodular thyroids; histologic diagnoses of
adenomatous goiter and Hirthle cell tumor.
Responding satisfactorily to oral thyroid hormone
therapy.
11 (58%)
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