1985. The Rongelap people abandoned Rongelap and sailed for Majieto
Island in Kwajalein Atoll. The U. S. Congress passed the Compact of Free
Association Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-239) of which Section 103(i) is
the basis for the present inquiry (Note 2).
1987
report.
The following points are of major interest for the present
{a) A clear distinction should be made between the late effects of
the large acute exposure in 1954 (190 rem whole-body) and the possible
(but as yet undetermined) effects of the much smaller chronic dose since
resettlement in 1957-1978 (~3.5 rem or less).
(b)
The original dose estimates for the 1954 exposure were much too
low for the thyroid gland (Cronkite,1954; Dunning, 1957). The necessity
for major correction later on weakened or destroyed Rongelap confidence
in DOE.
The annual radiation doses during the first years of
resettlement may also have been underestimated, but the corrections would
be very much smaller.
(c) The occurrence of thyroid tumors (7 30%) 10 years or later
after returning to Rongelap (Fig. 2.3 #1; Note 4B) has been a confusing
experience for the Rongelap people. In addition, eight cases of
hypothyroidism have been observed (Adams 1988).
(d)} No significant increase in tumors outside of the thyroid gland
has been seen (Adams et al, 1984), except for 1 basal cell epithelioma in
1987 (Adams 1988) in the 81 persons at risk.
(e) No obvious gross difference in survivorship between
1954-exposed and 1954-unexposed groups has occurred (Fig. 2.3 #2).
Although statistically significant decreases in some blood-cell types
have been noted (Adams et al, 1982), none has been clinically
Significant.
(f)
Based on four parameters (longevity, thyroid nodules,
carcinoma, blood counts), there is no evidence of effects from the
chronic low-level exposure associated with length of residence on
Rongelap since 1957 (Note 4(b)). These studies are admittedly
exploratory. However, the average dose over the period 1957-78 is quite
small (3.5 rem or less), and will be accumulated at much lower rates in
the future.
17