BNL AUL]] AY BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY associaTeD UNIVERSITIES, ING. UPTON, Lit, N.Y. 11973 i MEDICAL DEPARTMENT a FOLLG TELEPHONE: (516) 345- July 25, 1973 Miss Virginta Bredine Consulting Editor, Envitornment 438 North Skinker Blvd. St. Louis, Mo. 63130 Dear Miss Brodine: I can partly answer some of the questions of your letter of July 20 and must refer you elsewhere for other answers. . There were 28 American servicemen (mostly Army) exposed on ‘“Rongerik Atoll as a result of the fallout accident March 1, 1954. They were exposed to a dose of about 69R of gamma radiation, This compares with a dose of about 175R received by the Rongelap people. This lower dose is due to the fact that there was less fallout on Rongerik and also because of the precautions the servicemen took they received less absorption of radioactive nuclides. The immediate effects were studied by our medical team headed by Dr. E. P. Cronkite, now Chairman of the ~ Medical Department here, At that time this was largely a Navy group of doctors under auspices of the AEC. The early effects consisted of slight lowering of the periphereal blood elements and very slight "beta" skin burns in a few of these men, There was rapid recovery from these effects, There was no radiation sickness or ther illness observed in this group that could be related to radiation exposure. See "Some Effects of Ionizing Radiation on Human Beings," edited by E. P. Cronkite, V. P. Bond and C. L. Dunham, TID 5358, July, 1956, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. After about two months of examinations by our . team the men were taken to Hawaii where further examinations were conducted at Tripler Army Hospital under the direction of Col, James Brennan (MC) USA, I understand these men were later returned to their duty stations or to their homes when mustered out of the service. I do not have information on follow-up examinations of these men and I suggest that if you wish further information about this you contact the Office ofthe Surgeon General, Department of the Army. With regard to the information concerning the possible exposure of other service or AEC personnel connected with the testing program, I suggest you write the Division of Biomedical and Environmental Research, Atomic Energy Commission, Washington, D. C. WFORMATION OPERATOR (516} 345-2123 .