: A TWENTY-YEAR REVIEW OF a r 4 ay st amet x * Fe : * as eee s. Spay a ! MEDICAL FINDINGS IN A MARSHALLESE POPULATION ACCIDENTALLY EXPOSED TO RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT 1. Background A. THE ACCIDENT The testing of nuclear devices in the Marshall Islands (see Hines?*), beginaing with Operation Crossroads at Wiking in 1946 and ending with the Mmoratoriua ta LODGE, did not resale im significant midiation cXpasure ta perenne) or fallout conmtame Insadion outside the lest sgea except in ane case. Ou March 1, 954. the detonation froma wawer of a thermonuclear deviee, Brivo, in the Castle Senes oftests at Kiki resulted ina serious Callout acgie at. The yield was about 17 megatons, considerably greater than expected, and an unpre: dicted shift in winds in the upper atmosphere caused the ractioactive cloud to drift over and des posit fallout on several inbabircd atolls ta the cast: Rongelap with GE people, Adingnac with 18 people, Rongerik with 28 Ainerican servicemen, and Utirik with 157 people (see Figure 1}. A Japanese fishing vessel in the area, the Lucky Dragon, with 25 fishermen abourd was also exposed ‘see Appendix 4). Vhe fallout is thought to have con mmcnced at Ronygelap about 4 to 6 he after the det anation, at Rangerik about 7 hr after it, and at Cticik about 22 br after it. lis duratian on the islands a uneertain but has been estimated as about ble, the greater part af the fallautauceurriay early tthe period. "Vheestimated dose of ganna radia: tien tothe isdand populations is discussed 1:3 Sec tion WEA. Vhe Aimerican sceviecmen on Rongerik noted that the necdle ona telemetering jasirument suddenly began rising and went offescale in JO unin, beginning about @ to 7 hr alter the detonation. An alarian was radiocd ta the task force, and a plane (ving low contirmed hat significant fatlout had occurred. ‘The exposed people were evacuated byplanes and Navyships within about two days and taken to Kwajalein, 179 miles to the south, They were first examined by the medical group atthe Naval Dispensary there. Eight days after the accident a medical team consisting of J] doctors and technicking, larucly from the Navy, which had been re- quested by the ARG, arrived at Kwajaleia. For two tonths che team tock medical histories, did repeated physical examinations including studies and photographs of beta burns of the skin, made numerous hematolagical tests, and monitored for external and internally absorbed radioisotopes. Complete removal of the radioactive contamination from the skin and hair required manycleansing procedures; the coconut oi] used on the hair was particularly retentive. At the end of the examination period, most of the skin burns had healed and, although significant hematological depression bad occurred, no serious illnesses were evident that could be related to radiauion injury. ‘The Marshallese people were taken to a tent cncampmient on Ebeve Island for a stay of several weeks. Since Ctirik Atoll was only very slightly contaminated from ube fallout, it was considered safe for habitation, and the Cuirik people were returned there -ch fresh supplies. clothing, and lives stock. Rongelap Atoll was too contaminatedto alluw immediate return and its people (along with the 18 from Ailingnac) were taken to a temporary village built for them on Ejet Island in Majuro Atoll, where theylived for 3 years uatil their ree turn to Rongelap. The American servicemen were taken to Vripler Ariay Hospital for further exam nations agd liter returned to duty. 8. ANNUAL EXAMINATIONS Medical examinations of the Rongelap people were conducted at their temporary home on Majuro in Septeniber of 1954 and in March of 1935, Hod, and 1997. In 193 tan unexposed group of Marshallese living at Majuro was chosen as a comparison population far these exarmiiations, This group, however, was composed of people from many of the Miarshall Islands who were not easily focated for subsequent examinations, Caex- posed Rongelap people gradually moved to Ejet to live with their fellowislanders, and this group increased further on the return to Rongelap. These unexposed Rongeclap people were included in the examinations and have served as an excellent com- parison population since dey are blood relives ofthe exposed Rongelap people, match reasonably well for age and sex, and live under the same environmental conditions (sce Section LEE AL). eee AR arm En 5 etc me ae eee te watllleh Keer ee i