ta hk RE Se ab AR RS Rtas “a, la ae 401033 Joumal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles, Vol. 156, No. 2 (1992] 269-290 LATE MEDICAL CONSEQUENCES OF EXPOSURE TO RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT RONGELAP AND UTIRIK 35 YEARS AFTER “BRAVO” W. H. ADAMS Medical Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Associated Universities, Inc, Upton, Long Island, New York 11973 (USA) (Received June 3, 1991) Data collected by the Brookhaven Medical Program on the late medical consequences of the exposure to radioactive fallout originated from the detonation of a thermonuclear device on Bikini atoll in Marshall Islands are discussed. INTRODUCTION March 1, 1990, will be the 36th anniversary of the detonation, from a tower on Bikiniatoll in the Marshall Islands, of a thermonuclear device, BRAVO, which resulted in a serious fallout accident. The yield of the explosion was considerably greater than expected. This, plus unpredicted wind shifts in the upper atmosphere, caused the radioactive cloudto drift over and deposit fallout on several inhabited atolls to the east: Rongelap with 64 people, Ailingnae with 18 people, Rongerik with 28 American servicemen, and Utirik with 157 people. A Japanese fishing vessel, the Lucky Dragon, with 23 fishermen aboard was also exposed. The fallout began on Rongelap about four to six hours after detonation, on Rongerik at about seven hours, and on Utirik at about 22 hours. The duration ofthe fallout is estimated to have been about 12 hours,the greater part occurring early in the period. Within two days the exposed people were evacuated and taken to Kwajalein, 175 miles to the south, where decontamination commenced. A medical team arrived to examine andtreat them for the anticipated radiation injury. The findings of the medical team, which included acute hematological and dermatological abnormalities, were subsequently published and are reviewed below (1). The Japanese fishermen received medical evaluation and follow-up, and these results were also published (2). The U.S. servicemen were returned to duty, but, despite attempts by the formerdirector of the Marshall Islands medical program, focused periodic medical examinations for them were not provided by the military. The whole-body radiation doses in rem received by the different groups were as follows: Rongelap - 190; U.S. servicemen - 155; Ailingnae - 115; Utirik Elsevier Sequoia S. A., Lausanne Akadémiai Kiadé. Budapest repository FECDRAD | couectio’Wndka Molar 1 BOX No. FOLDER Vhe The Medi € . Medical Research Center G4[Sipfroosinven National Lahoratary Upton, L. L, New York