could be related to the people, for when the Rongelapese and other affected
persons were evacuated,
their pigs and chickens were left behind on the
island.
These animals were later collected and sacrificed at various times and
With the findings from these
studies,
the doctors then attempted to extrapolate the information to human
beings.
While they realized that extrapolations from animals cannot truly
represent the actual situation with humans,
they at least provided a guideline.
ay
radiological studies made of all their tissues.
thought that the amount received was estimated to be "about 150 rep. for
Rongelap group (sic) and 50 rep. for the Americans." .-This amount, the report
said, while high, was relatively low in comparison to doses persons receive in
As to the other radioactive elements, such as strontium,
Wepre
radiation therapy.
the report concluded:
"
.
.
sete
it was
waite
As to the effects of iodine,
|
cesium and strontium.
an evaluation of
including that of Sr 89,
the date on the internal contamination,
leads to the conclusion that the internal
oma”
hazard to the contaminated inhabitants of the Marshall Islands is
minimal both from the acute and long range point of view." (p.74)
{emphasis added]
Doneat?
active iodine,
set
The conclusions in the 1956 report considered the possible effects of radio-
radioactive iodine was made by James for children (Rongelap girls 3-4 years
James'
recalculations yielded figures considerably higher than the
original estimates for he had considered a factor overlooked in earlier
calculations.
as opposed
This factor was the relative size of the thyroid in children
to adults.
The earlier calculations had assumed a constant
thyroid weight for all persons (about 20 grams).
100
James, however, used 1
ete
old).
feoneer®
including
ae mae
recalculation of the total internal dose of all radioactive elements,
:
-
With the discovery in 1964 of thyroid nodules in exposed Rongelapese, a