By 1957, radiological surveys indicated that, in spite of slight lingering radioactivity, Rongelap Atoll wassafe for habitation. A completely new village was constructed, and in July the Rongelap people, more than doubled in number bythein- died from leukemia that may or mavnot have been related to radiation exposure; transportation all their personal belongings, bed mats, andlive- deteriorated; and political interference was started which has been particularly frustrating and has threatenedto put a stop to the medical supervision and care provided to the exposed people by the medical team. downto life in their new village. In March 1958 the survey was carried out for the first time at decision was made that more frequent hematological examinations of the exposed people were been done mostly at Rongelap with supplementary visits to other islands. The Utirik people, after the initial examinations, were next examined on their homeisland in 1957. They have since been examined only about stituted every Septemberin addition to the March survey. flux of relatives, were taken there on an LST with stock. After arrival ceremonies they happily settled Rongelap; subsequent annual examinations have once every 3 years because their fallout exposure was minimal. The American servicemen have not been seen by our medical team since theinitial examinations. During recent vears the Rongelap and Utirik people have movedin large numbers to thedistrict centers at Majuro and particularly Ebeve (Kwajalein Atoll), where many are employed by the Kwajalein Missile Range. This had necessitated examinations at Majuro and Ebeye in addition to their homeislands. (Table 1 shows the present geographical distribution of the people.) The manystudies that have been done on the Marshallese are directly or indirectly related to possible radiation effects. Often a single blood sample drawn for routine hematology has been used for many tests. Multiple blood sampling has been avoi..cd wheneverpossible. C. 1970-1974 SURVEYS During the past 5 years a numberof problems have arisen: thyroid abnormalities continued to develop in the exposed Rongelap peoplein spite of hormone treatment; an exposed Rongelap boy In 1972, following the death from leukemia, the needed, and therefore such examinations werein- Also in 1972, the decision was madeto place a resident physician in the Marshall Islands. An increasing numberof exposed Rongelap peuple were developing thyroid nodules, most of which required surgical intervention, and manvof them were not adheringstrictly to the thyroid treatment program, which is considered extremely important, especially after surgery. A resident physician would be able to monitor this program and, since the Trust Territory was short on medical personnel, could assist in general health care of the Rongelap and Utirik people. The planis for such a phvysictan to alternate between BNL and the Marshall Islands every two years. Thefirst one has just completed a 2-year term, and anotheris taking his place soon. Transportation has always been a major problem for the medical survey teams. Air transportation to the Pacific improved greatly with the advent of the jet plane, but travel by ship amongthe Mar- shall Islands (several hundred miles between atolls through rough seas) has remained difficult. The travel problem has been magnified by the need for the resident physician to visit Rongelap and Utunk quarterly, and by the added responsibility of the medical team, since 1971, for radiation monitoring of Bikini and more recently of Eniwetok, since the people displaced by the bomb testing program are Table | Location of Rongelap and Utirik People, 1974 Rongelap exposed Rongelap unexposed Utirik exposed Total Rongelap Uurik Majuro 31 37 ~ 5 14 Ebeye 24 65 Bikini 7 Other 6 8 Total 66 131 - 41 43 22 - 10 116 68 41 62 111 7 24 313