AES (May —_ UNITED STATES 4otf , ~ 1 ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20545 y 12 67 _ RG MEMORANDUM FOR CHAIRMAN SEABORG ““&—~"@Q@HBR COMMISSIONER JOHNSON SUBJECT: COMMISSION Coljection KC SEA BORG COMMISSIONER . NABRIT COMMISSIONER RAMEY COMMISSIONER TAPE THROUGH GENERAL MANAGER US DOE ARCHIV 326 U.S. ATOMIC ENERGY Box 9 De A TNCIDENCE OF TwyAaetD FolderCagcen ca Ornen, Diseases AN Tae ExvosteyGRoves 1965-1968 a? . ° : RECENT INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF THYROID DISEASE IN THE MARSHALLESE EXPOSED TO FALLOUT FROM THE BIKINI TEST OF MARCH 1, 1954 Since our last memorandum on this subject dated January 17, 1967, the complete annual medical survey of the people of Rongelap Isiand has been carried out by a team of physicians from the United States and theTrust Territory headed by Dr. Robert A. Conard of the Medical Department of Brookhaven National Laboratory. One new case with a thyroid nodule was discovered. This additional case was in a 17-year old boy who had been away on an outlying atoll and, consequently, had not been examined for several years. At this time, in the group exposed at an age of less than ten years, 16 of a total of 19 children (84 percent) have developed thyroid pathology. children, two have displayed hypothyroidism. Of these 16 It appears that these two boys showing growth retardation have had a spurt in growth under treat- ment with thyroid hormone. The remaining 14 children have had thyroid nodules. treated surgically. Nine have been These nine children plus two adults who have received surgery were all found to be in good condition with no further apparent thyroid abnormalities. Five children with thyroid nodules are receiving thyroid medication. The thyroid nodules in two of these children showed significant regression; of the other three, one is the new case, and the other two children are not felt to have received an adequate trial on this therapy. A decision regarding surgery has been postponed until intensive thyroid hormone medication can be tried. Dr. Conard reports no other noteworthy medical findings and no unusual illnesses or diseases that could be related to radiation effects. CHA IRMAN /3