te | ° a qetechee ee - oo m . Nee ‘ aa i b/ 3s Bricf Summary of Medical Findings in the Marshallese “Ze Accidentally Exposed to Radioactive Fallout in 1954 AMoct ys ty The accidental exposure occurred on March 1, 1954 following detonaee tion of a thermonuclear devise on Bikini in the Pacific Proving Grounds. A shift in wind resulted in fallout on the following inhabited islands* Island Distance from Bikini Rongelap . 105 miles Ailingnae 110 —o" Rongerik 135 =" Utirik 275 " Estimated No. of People Gamma dose 64 ' 175 rads 18 oo " 28° 70 =" 158 4 American Service men There were no deaths but certain acute effects were noted, particularly in the Rongelap people. Transcient depression of blood cells was follow- ed by recovery to near normal levels by one year. Fallout deposited on the body resulted in skin burns and spotty loss of hair in the Rongelap, Ailingnae and Rongerik groups. out complications in The burns healed and the hair regrew with- several months. Urine analyses revealed that inter- nal absorption of radioactive material had occurred from inhalation and ingestion of contaminated food and water but no acute effects were observed from this source (as will be seen below late effects did occur). Follow-up examinations during the first decade showed few findings thact could be related to radiation exposure. Possibly relatec was the occurrence of about twice the number of miscarriages and stillbirths in the exposed compared with unexposed Rongelap women. ft ence ”was not t seen aft er 5 years ° - This diifer- DOE ARCHIVES gery — a oie