died from leukemia that may or may not have
been related to radiation ex pusure; bransporbiliad
By 1957, radiological surveys indicated that, in
spite of slight lingering radioactivity, Rungelap
Atoll was safe for habitation, A completely new
village was constructed, and ia July the Rongelap
people, more than doublea in number by the influx of relatives, were taken there on an LST with
all their personal belongings, bed mats, andlivestock, Afler arriva! ceremonies they happily setiled
deteriorated; aad political interference was started
which has been particularly frustrating and bas
threatened ta puta stop to the medical supervision
and care provided te the exposed people by the
medical team,
la 1972, following the death from leukemia, the
decision was made that more frequacnt bematologscal examinations of the expused people were
the survey was carried out for the first time at
Rongelap; subsequent annual examinations have
been dune mostly at Rongelap with supplementary
visits tu other islanls.
‘The Utirik people, after the initial examina.
needed, and therefore such examinations were in
stituted every September ta addition to the March
survey,
Also in 1972, the decisien was mide to place a
resident physictaa inthe Marshall stands. An in-
lions, were nest examined on Cheir hose island ia
surgical intervention, and niany of then were not
adhering strictly to the thyroid Greatiment proeran, which is considered extremely mapartant,
especially after surgery, A resident physician would
be able toa monitor tus progesm and. since ihe
ed
.
people dave moved in large numbers to the disict centers at Majuro and: particularly Ebeve
(Kwajalein Atoll), where many are eniploved by
he Kwajalein Missile Range. This had necessi-
Vrust Territory was short on medical personnel,
could coatin geacral health care of the Rongclap
and Uernk people. Vhe plan is for such a phvsickin
to ablernate beoween BND and the Miarshiall bs.
tated exsiminstions at Majure and Ebeve in adadition ta they home islands. (Vable | shows the
present geographical distribution of the people.)
lands every two vears. Vhe first one his just completed a 2-year term, and another as taking his
place soon,
The manystudies that have been dane on the
Marshallese ace directly or tadireeily related to
posible radiation cilecu. Often a single blood san
‘Transportation has always been a niajor prob.
Jena fur the medical survey teams. Nir tranpporta-
Hon to the Paciic iaproved greatly with ube advent
ple drawn for routine hematulogy has been wed
for tnany tosis. Multiple blood sampling has been
avaided whenever possible.
'
oft the jet pline, but travel by ship among the Mare
shall [slau(seseral hundred ales beuveen atolls
C. 1970-1974 SURVEYS
During the past 3 vears a mimber of problems
have geben: thyroid abnorimnalines comtinued ta
develop in the exposed Rongelap people inspite of
hormone Ueatinest, ag exposcd Rangelap boy
through rough seas) has remained dificult, Vhe
travel problem has been maunitied by the nerd foe
the resident physician to visi Kongelag and Gainik
quaricrly, and by the added responsibility of the
inedical team, since POT 1, for radiation monitoring
af Bikiad aad mere recently of Eniwetok, sinee the
people dixplaced by the bomb texting program are
‘Valle |
rs aeoerke
lonation ed Rangelap and Craik Peopte, fT t
*
tase the
tan,4
.
oe
developing thyreid nodules, most of which required
once every S$ years because their falluut exposure
wats miaiimal, The American servicemen have not
been seen by our medical team since the mitial
eSalina lions,
During recent veans the Rongelap and Uiirik
Kougelap
aarik
Miurjures
Pheve
Mebind
Ohler
"Vestal
Kongelap espescd
s]
-
d
2
-
in
tt
Rongelop unexpe med
AG
-
-
th
It
on
7
-
rl
14)
a|
hu
tig
il
we
bl
7
3
SES
Crth expamed
ethssgalveot
creasing nuinber of exposed Rongelap people were
1937. Vhey have since been examined ooly about
HOF
Veit to hh ee WkFRAl em an EN ne oe
1
s
’
+
t
ven idee eek Ld Nb TP pillStet!
down to life in their new village. [a March 1958
Tosal
Hh
wl