72
Bikini (see Table df and Appendix 12), and a
gamma survey of the island was made by Greenhouse ef al(see Appendix 4).
On Bikini Island alinose all the ganuna radiation is now due to Cy. The gamma level dite to
natural radivactivityis considerably less on these
islands thay in the ULS.; this is why the average
gamunia dose to an inhabitant is lower in: Bikini
Village than in certain parts of the U.S. The
people living on Bikini eat a dict consisting almost
entirely of imported food, but they ingest slight
amounts of radioaclivity trom local seatoord. The
newly planted coconut, pandanus, and breadfruit
trees will not bear fruit in any significant quantity
for some sears vet. Phe urinary radionuclide level
of the Bikini people iss ow several times as high as
when they were living on Kili Island, but still can-
siderably below the permissible range. The toid
estimated internal bone marrowdose in 1974 ta
the people living on Bikini was about half chat to
the peaple living on Rongelap, but with the external dose included, the dose to the bane marrow
was about the same (see Table 42). lis reassuring
that analyses of urive for plutonium show levels
nese background in the Bikini people (see Table
373. Weil water on Bikini bas had low levels of ac-
tivity (see Table 3%), The clictary levels projected
for Bikini when the newly planted trees bese fruit
shoud be considerably lower than the levels luased
on analyses of fruit from old trees because of the
son renoval procedures used at planting, but thetr
aciual evaluation niust await maturity of the trees
and further analyses. [tis planned te ..dd supplementary calchuin tothe diet of the Bikini peaple
tubes educe absurption of “Sr. Experiments are
ub‘ oway to investigate the tolerance of Marshallese people for powdered milk as a source uf
calcium. Races other than the Caucasian are reported to have a lower tolerance for milk because
ofa genetic inability ta digest lactase which gives
rise to abdaminad discomfort. diarrhea, and ather
ssinploms, 1
Vil. Comments and Conclusions
A. THE EXAMINATIONS
‘Phe primary responsibility assigned the medica!
leam by the NEC (now ERIDA) was the diagic as
and treatment of possible ellects of radiation expo-
sure inthe Marshallese, but inevieably the exam-
ining groups have been concerned also with general health care at the time of heir vistis, The re-
sponsibilities have been filled by carryiig out ex-
tensive annual examinations, supplemented in recent vears by semiannual hematology checks and
quarterlyvisits by a resident physician, The exaiminations, whieh have been carried aut with the
assistance of the Vrust Perritury Pealth Services,
have resulted in extensive medical distories anc
records for cach individual and have made it possible ta diagnose and treat muy dixcases and ill-
Hesses at an carly stage.
An ioporuint aspect of tae medical surveys is to
Manwvain cappert with the people, to keep them
informed of the medical dindings. to explain the
need for examinations, and al limes to correct unfoun ed rumors about fallout elleci. Unfortu.
mately this has not always been successfully kept
up because of dillerences in language and culture.
Some studies have been of benefit to the Marshail Islands as a whole, such as the surveys of the
incidence of diabetes and of parasitic infestauion.
In addition. a great deal of data has accuanulated
from studies of genetically inherited characteristics
which may prove valuable not only in determin:
ing possible pence effects of radiation but alse in
aathropolouy.
B. COMPARISON WITH OTHER
HUMAN EXPOSURES
In contrast to other groups exposed to radiation,
the Afarshallese are unique in that \. ey comprise
the only human pupulation ever exposed to acute
radiation from fallout. Vhe accident © cused attenwon forthe lirst time oan the hazards of fallout
fra nuclear detonaiions. Phe atoms: blasts above
Hiroshima and Nagasaki resulted in casualties
due to penetrating gaaima and neutron radition
dircetty from the bombs wiah linde or ao fallout ine
valved and therefore caused no ¢lfeets die ta ine
tern abserpiion ad cadioaclive materials. [ncn
trast, the Sfarshallese were not exposed to direct
clleets of the detonation but onty to radionetive
fillout resullitig in whole-body, skin. wad imbernual
exposure, Trauma and extreme psychelouwical ais-
turbances did pot conpribure to the effects ia the
Marshallese as dhey did da the Japanese. Pie ine
portauce of the hazard from iuernal absarpion of
radioactive tadine bas bees ctearly demonstrated
by the Marshallese experience. The 25 fananese
fishermen on the Sake Drage received an expa-
sure stnilar te that of the Rongelap group but