select a separate comparison group for Utirik. One of the questions concermed the fact that the children of the exposed islanders have not been included in the regular examination list. This was done because large groups of children of radiation-exposed parents have been studied in Japan. Since these studies, including examinations of Marshallese children of exposed parents, revealed no distinct genetic effects, it was felt that regular examinations of the Marshallese children born of exposed parents was not necessary. To quote from a letter from one of the foremost human geneticists, Dr. V. Neel, of Michigan: '... J. Professor of Human Genetics at the University there is not evidence that genetic change was induced in children born of the exposed Marshallese any more than there is unequivocal evidence of damage in the children born of the exposed Japanese.'' He pointed out, however, that there are some 15-20 dominantly inherited syndromes that might possibly be related to radiation exposure. Even if one of these oc- curred, it would be impossible to say it was due to radiation. It is most unlikely that any Marshallese child would develop such a syndrome. Neverthe- less, if any child or an exposed Marshallese did, they would receive special treatment. A program for examination of all children on Utirik is discussed later in this letter. Several of your questions suggest that the dose received by the Utirik people might have been higher than calculated. There were marked early effects in the Rongelap people, but the lack of acute symptoms and the minimal blood changes detectable only by statistical means in Utirik individuals is consistent with the smaller dose of 14 rads (see Table I). In answer to your question about lingering radiation, it is true that there has been a small additional dose to the people living on Utirik and Rongelap from a slight amount of fallout left on the islands. However, this dose is smalt and would not be expected to produce any observable effects. Radiation from the fallout is getting less and less. 30/1073 The dose estimates