om - 4 pe OE pe a TT er 1 ee SR MIAN pepera ng AYP ODER BOTAT ERR ETS Preface The medical examinations of the Marshall Islanders accidentally exposed to radioactive fallout in 1954 have new covered a span of 20 years, A Seyear period has clapsed since findings have been presented in full, and this report includes de- cerning authorities has changed their wayoflife. The missionaries brought religion. clothing, and changed customs. A dollar economy based on than as prescuted fast. shally had been primitive, with treatment of the wick olten involving a large clement of supestivion and magic, and apparesty did not unprove under Japanese rule, During World War TP the Mare stiatlese were lurged ta live on low calorie dicts Lindwetok uit the aaoratoriuie was declaced aa P58. Vliese islands were chosen because of their bolatedd bacanion ba the vast neehy erapiy eciin areal Aficronesia just north of the equator. east of the CGayotine Islands, and northwest af the Gilbert [slanicls, alanat dialiwaw bers cen the bbawaian Islands aad Auscialia, Phe Marshall istaads com. prise U4 ishands aclatolts spreadioser some THO 000 sjaare miles oPocean, Rach wtell consists ofa law. Ivitwg chan of sanmedy. paalaa coxered islianels con nected by areebsairrennding and preotes TAAL we cane tral blue-green digeon, PLabitable hand area ts sarprsingly sama edly abet 7ibsquace nates in the coure Marshall Phands. Phe clitiste is trapical, ane the trade winds blow div hoatthe vear. Phe atolls Involved inthe PQOd aecadent are located ia the northern Marshalls: Ronvelap and Ailingnae sthaut TOO ngadical agiles cast of Bikini. Rangerik ilarat V3 aiiles cast od Bikini and Uuaik 275 rhbtles ecast al” Bikini. During the past century the Murshallese people have been governed tn tour countries. Germany purchased the Mfushall [stacks frou: Spain oa HBO and governed ome and PZ hen Jape look aver vider a detaof Nations mince: Japan dechued ownership in dot when she broke ! a } i a; 3 copra production and employment bylocal gavvironmental subsistence. “Vhe Muashall Isuunds were chosen is aia atomic bonita proving waaaiid ar the cane of Operation Ctrossrentds at Wikia da P16 aad were stalaseqquenthy used far uterus tests at bath Bikint and Py s \ erninents has tended gradually to supplant the en- tails af this period as well as a summary ofthe data for the entire 20 sear. Same backycound informa. ‘ Sanitary conditions and health care in the Mar- . : wath inadequate medical care. When the U.S. was taade trusice in LUT, the Navy. under the aus- plees af as Burcau of Medicine and Surgery, undertook a comprehensive medical survew of island populations in the Trust Territory including the Marshall Isands, using ane ofits vessels, the USS Whidbey) Vhe survey showed that unsanitary con: ditions with tegard to flies, garbage disposal. and excretory habits made for multiple intestinal paraSiic inestationts and disvases. \ high percentage of the pr ope hiacl positive Rahn tests. associated with saws. and widespread treatient with penicillin proved extremely elfvetive. Diseases of the eves and skin. acute aad chromic respiratory discases, and vitamin deticiencies were especially cammon. Noomalarta hiriasis, vellaw fever. or cholera wasscen. Subsequent health care in the Trast Ter- riiery was hampered by lack of trained medical personnel and poor ininspartation to the outer lands. Vhas was the status when aur speckil medical esaminavens began. Soe ofthe events over the wears in the Miarstall Islands that are relevant te the medical sursevere listed in Appendix 1. Vhe first examinations in EQ34 after the lallovaa were conducted by an emergency dicdical tea, ; i | ‘ i a trou the League of Nuarious, Phe Caited States requested: by the Aronue Energy Contntission, liboeeatedd the Afiirsdialls in ThE. during Worle directed by Deo EP. Cronkite and) composed ‘| Wau Th. aired wars wiveg: auithord under a Caitted heegels of Navy anedical persengel whose service eaprticnce proved extrenely belptul fae this field. WW pe operation, Resurvess were conducted att Wenths under Dr VIP. Road and web? months under Dr Cronkite. Tn 195i Che surveys were phiced under the direvtion af the author at Brook- H tf Nbons Onda be Gone Histon Che seadiercd islands of Micronestaas the Prast Pereitocy of the Pactic Islands: thin woas clone tiist bv the LoS. Navy and later by the Departaented the Laverior. The carly explorers aud tracers found the islands tohobited by friendly. gentle. primitive people. liviag in thatched lauts, tishing fram out Newer Ganoes. and subsea caticely from che Jacal cmv ironed. Phe increasing encroachment ofcivilization Via traders. wisstomaties, aie wow. haven Nwonal Labaratars, Since chen the surveys lave bees conducted in conjunction with the De- peirtmentof Health Services of the Urust Perritary and with the participation of medical specialists tram the Awmied Forces aad fram medical centers A €