oD
40 S81
Lh
February 3, 1960
Je. Le
He
Farr,
Chairman
Aedical Departnent
Re
Ae
.
Compard, Head, Max shall
Igtandehedical turveys
This memorandu: concerns asi evaluation of the scape and frequency of
medical surveys of the Ronrelapese that will be neceasary in the
future, particularly suring the next (ive year period.
The faliowing
facts related to the health status of these people are presented to
show the beala for cvaluatian.
1. Thai
smpomxe. As & result of the
fallout accident on 1 barch 1954, the people of Nomgelap received a
high sub-lethal exposure of ganna radiation and extemeive beta bucns
of the gkin. In addition radioisotepes were absorbed. The janua
wadiation caused significamt deyreseiom of theic blood forming er,ans
@iring the géwo sonths following exposure. There way have bean az
fect on general metabolien as evidenced by weight lece fer several
months in the majority of people and a alight retardation of ,rowth
and development of the childrm during the first two years after the
accident. The people have largely reaovered from these effects of
their exposure with the exceptian of complete recovery af their blood
platelets, whose mean level is still slightly below the level of the
wmiexpesed congarison poguiatien, but within the mercmal range.
2
5
uf greater concern now is the
possible development of late effects of radiation based om hnowleige
gained from animal studies anu (rom linited experience with mean
beings. seme of theae effects which way poselbly appear in the Mac-
sbaliese are:
ghertwming of Life span, promatuce ageing, increase in
degenerative diseases. increased incidence of welignancies, cevelop~ment of opacities of the lens of the eyes aad genetic changes. Such
fects heave not yet been observed in the “arshallese tut continued
emnination is considered necessary in orcer te detect and carry cut
bLIZ8ll
treatment of any disenses that any develop as soon ag they nicht
appear. To thie od « cancer detection pregram will be inatituted
is the surveys. This will include careful observation of the residual
cara of beta ims for signe of malignant change. ia the japanese
mposed to the atomic bombiizs an increased incicence of Leukenia,
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