*
2
MEDICAL SURVEY OF THE PEOPLE OF RONGELAP po UTIRIK.{StANDS .
ELEVEN AND TWELVE YEARS AFTER EXPOSORE7O FALLOUT"RADIATION
(MARCH 1965 AND MARCH %966)
i
5
ssa
Introduction
ceived only an external gamma dose of about 69
The results of a medical survey of the people of
island of Rongerik further to the east whoreceived
about the same amount of radiation as did the
Rongelap people on Ailingnae, Lastly, 157 Mar-
rads. There were 28 American servicemen on the
Rongelap in the Marshall Islands, carried out in
March 1965 and March 1966. 11 and 12 years
after the accident, are presented in this report.
These people had been accidently exposedtofallout radiation following a detonation of a high
yield thermonuclear device during experimentsat
shallese on Utirik Island ggbout 200 miles further
east, received an estimat "14, radgof whole-body
radiation. Thefallout was ‘notvisible on thisisland
andnoskin effects developed. -
Bikini in the Pacific Proving Grounds in March
1954. An unpredicted shift in winds caused a
deposition of significant amountsoffallout on four
inhabited Marshall Islands to the east of Bikini
The exposedpipeople were evacuated from these
islands by plane.and ship about 2 daysafter the
accident arid, taken to Kwajalein Naval Base
about 15@°mik
the south,where theyre-
ceived dejsamningtigns for the following }
(see Figure 1) and also on 23 Japanese fishermen
aboard their fishing vessel, the Lucky Dragon. Of
months
the inhabitants of the island of Rongelap, 105
ng tBisperidd vigorous efforts were
necessary to decoritaminate the, skin completed.
(see Figure 2).
In view of the generallynegative.ndingsoathhe
American servicemen,they weigigter returned ta
their duty stations. The Utirik people were also ai-
nautical miles away from the detonation, 64 re-
ceived the largest fallout exposure: an estimated
dose of 175 rads of whole-body gammaradiation,
contamination of the skin sufficient to result in
beta burns, andslight internal absorption ofradioactive materials through inhalation and ingestion.
lowedto return to their homeisland, where radio-
active contamination wasslight enough to allow
safe habitation. Because Rongelap Atoll was con-
Another 18 Rongelap people away on a nearby
island (Ailingnae), whereless fallout occurred, re-
sidered to be too highly contaminated, a tempo-
- a & UTIRIK
:
al
Syernnen
.
Y
~
Q
Q
L
Figure 1. Mapoffallout area,
Marshall Islands. March 1, 1954.
°
MAJURC
S
Figure 2. Marshallese bathing in lagoon at Kwajalein in
)
March 1954 to decontaminateskin and hair alter tallow
contamination.