PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED Rongelap-Ucircik axis will uecd to he studied. and Mejit Tsland. This would include Adluk AtoLi In addition, Wotje should probably also be screened inoan attempt to Find a base line perimeter with ambient Micronestan radtation back~ ground. J understand data exists relating to radiologic surveys made throughout the weapons-testing A second, period for many of the Marshall Tslands. The program, up until January 1, 1979, was orientes primarily toward the study of acute radiation effects caused by exposure to external and internal radionuclides in the study population. The comparisen population, defined in 1957, consisted of Rongelapese who were not acutely exposed but returned to Rongelap in 1957 with the exposed group. had only received about 14 rads of external gamma, Since Utiris the people were returned ta the island four months after contamination and no Utirik control population wes selected. Over the ensuing years, the development of thyreldd pathology: has been tmpressive. On Rongelap, cxposed proup. four cases of cancer of the thyroid have been datected in the Quite unexpectedly, three cancers have been confirmed at i. Utirik in the exposed group, and there are two additional cancers in people who have spent much of their time on Utirik since 1 March 1954. of the Rongelap controls ¢ In addition, ont 2, who developed cancer, has been living on Rengelap since 1958. We know that both Rongelap and Utirik were rveinhabited at a time when the background radiation was slightly above ambicnt for the "unexposed" areas in Micronesia. The problem we now face is that many of the “comparison” group were exposed to this environment and,therefore, > ih independent but related problem has arisen from reeent studits in low-Level radiation. t coustitute a subpopulation of "Low level-exposure”™. In light of some (John Nicoloff + President, American Thyrold Associatdon) c, current oeptnion that a thyroid Lissue dose as low as six rads may bo caretuugeni -2- rt PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED