TITLE
Human Health Effects from Energy
Generation:
Medical Studies of the
People of the Marshall Islands
Accidentally Exposed to Fallout
CONTRACTOR NAME
DATE PREPARED
HA~02-01-01
CODE
Associated Universities, Inc.
20f.
BUDGET AND REPORTING CODE
BNL
WP NUMBER
03/31/80
TASK NO,
REY. NO.
0
Technical Progress cont.
Expected Progress in BY-l (FY 1981) cont.
the process of reducing old charts to the problem-oriented medical records system
and the transfer of records to computer storage.
Expected Progress in BY (FY 1982).
Continuation of the medical surveys and limited primary care of the
Marshallese is anticipated on an indefinite basis.
Emphasis will be placed on
examinations for thyroid abnormalities, the previously mentioned cancers,
hematologic disorders and other possible effects of radiation exposure.
Coordination with the patient and echosystem monitoring teams from the Safety and
Environmental Protection Division will continue. Chart reduction will be
completed and computer storage and medical records will be continued.
20g.
Future Accomplishments.
Data obtained from this study will continue to provide baseline statistics
for all studies of human health effects of acute high level and long term low
level internal and external radiation.
20h.
Relationshipsto Other Projects.
The studies of the exposed Marshallese are closely related to the Radiation
Effects Research Foundation studies in Japan and to the studies of the 23 Japanese
fishermen exposed at the same time as the Marshallese to fallout.
Acute and long
term low level radiation ranks as one of the most important hazards that must be
considered in the DOE medical programs.
The effects of fallout exposure in the
Marshallese provides valuable information, particularly with regard to thyroid
effects from radioiodine exposure,
that may relate to future reactor accidents.
The longitudinal Marshallese data have been used in the analysis of such
accidents.
The data are also quoted in other reports such as those of the NCRP,
ICRP, BIER, and the United Nations.
The Safety and Environmental Protection Division of this Laboratory
conducts radiological personnel and environmental surveys of contaminated Marshall
Islands and their inhabitants.
Medical Surveys.
201.
These studies are closely coordinated with the
Environmental Assessment.
Work done under this task proposal has either no environmental impact or has
impacts similar to those described in and covered by BNL's Environmental [Impact
Statement (ERDA 1540).
[049224