9, Whyreld Disease in hongelap Islanders
Since the Bravo siot over Bikini in March 1954, the
ALC has regularly surveyed the residents of the
Narahall Islands for possibie 111 effecta resulting
. from fallout frem the detonation.
The first suspacted
abnormalities were discevered among Rengclasese
Islanders in the February 1964 survey: three teenagers
were found to have nodulag in the thyroid, all of which
. Were giown on further examination to be nonmalignant.
In June 1965 three mora Rongelapese were discovered
with thyroid nodules.
Of these, two were teenagers
_with benign nedulas and one was a 4di-year 61d weman
»whose thyroid was cancarous.
Ali these six have
euccessfully undergone ‘surgery for removalof the
abnermal tissue.
.
necently an interin visit was made ‘to the Marshall
Islands.
On this survey, thyroid nodulas were found in
.
five Marshallese and suspicious thyroid contours in
—
five more. To sunmarize, eleven of eighty-two
Marshallese have been founc to have definite alnormalities of thelr thyroid tissuas and five more are
considered guestionably 3c.
vo
The nen-exposed control population continues»to be
free of nodular thyroid disease.Surgery is being
arranged for the five new casea of nodular thyroid
Gisease. Meanwhile, therapy with synthetic thyrceid
- Rormone has been instituted in an (effort to control
farther nodule formation.
“Respectfully subitte,
_ Bigned Glenn isear
oS
“DOEARCHIVES
siena’sgoeloty
The President
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“fhe White House
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ae ere eree +
NcGeorge Bundy
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