6
per year to an individual.
It was recommended to the people
that land and coconut crabs not be consumed because of their
selective absorption of strontium-90 and cesium-137.
It is accepted that the radioisotopes of iodine I-131, I-132,

I-133, and I-135 contributed to the total dose to the thyroid
gland, resulting in the development of nodules in the thyroid

gland in 19 of 82 exposed people on Rongelap, with the preponderance in individuals who were less than 10 years of age

at the time of exposure.

The first thyroid abnormality was

discovered nine years after exposure.

Subsequent surgical

exploration was carried out in Guam, Hawaii, and the United

States on 18 of the victims, revealing three to have cancer
of the thyroid gland.
In addition, two boys were found to
have developed total atrophy of the gland resulting in hypothyroidism.
In an effort to prevent the development of

thyroid nodules, the exposed people were administered thyroxine

on a continuing basis.

In my opinion, the surgical and medical

treatment of the thyroid abnormalities afforded was comparable
to the best available in the United States.

The long term or delayed effects of radiation are in the main
the result of the radioactive isotopes strontium-90 and

cesium-137.

These two isotopes were plentiful in the fission

products and have relatively long half-lives.
Body burdens
for cesium-137 and strontium-90 by radiochemical assay of the
exposed Rongelapese in 1969 indicated no increase since similar
evaluations in 1965.
In addition, there was no significant

difference in the body burdens of the exposed and unexposed
persons living on Rongelap, indicating an equilibrium had been
reached.

It is difficult if not impossible to predict the

ultimate result of this increased body burden of potentially

Carcinogenic substances.
It is generally considered that the
biological hazard from cesium-137 is not as great as strontium90, a beta emitter that is selectively deposited in bone.

There are animal experiments which indicate that strontium-90

in sufficient quantities may produce bone cancer and possibly
leukemia.
Pathological effects of cesium-137 in the muscle

mass of the body are not definitely known at the present
time.

At this examination, a nodular thyroid gland was detected
in a Rongelapese girl who was 12 years of age at exposure
and the first nodular thyroid in a woman exposed on Ailingnae
when she was less than 10 years of age.
Unfortunately, the

first case of acute myelogenous leukemia among the exposed

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