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UNCLASSIFIED
Part V1
Biology and Medicine
MEDICAL SURVEY OF RONGELAP PEOPLE, MARCH 1959 (UNCLASSIFIED)
The sixth annual medical survey of the Rongelap people was carried out in March. These
people were the ones receiving the greatest amount of exposure from the fallout accidentally |
occurring after the experimental detonation of a thermonuclear weapon on March 1, 1954. The
survey showed that the group had recovered from the acute effects of the radiation exposure,
and appeared generally to be in good health. The following summarizestheir health status with
respect to radiation effects.
1. No illnesses or diseases were found that could be associated directly with
acute radiation effects.
2. Three deaths and one case of cancer have occurred, but with no apparent relation to radiation effects.
3. Fertility does not appear to have been affected. The incidence of miscarriages
and stillbirths in the exposed group appears to be somewhat higher than in the unexposed island population. However, a lack of vital statistics does not permit definite -
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4. Evidence suggesting a slight lag in growth and development of exposed children
was being reevaluated on the basis of better age data obtained during the recent March
survey.
;
5. Blood platelet levels are within the normal range but somewhat below the level
for the unexposed population.
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conclusions.
6. Residual changes in the skin from beta burns were found in only 12 cases. None
showed any evidence of cancerous change. Originally 64 Rongelaps had extensive skin
lesions and epilation,
7. Possible late effects of radiation such as shortening of life span, increased
incidence of leukemia and malignancies, increased incidence of degenerative diseases,
Opacities of the lens of the eyes, and genetic changes have not been observed.
8. Original body burdens of internally absorbed fission products appeared to have
been too low to have produced any acute or long-term effects.
9. Some increase in body burdens of cesium 137, zinc 65, and strontium 90 have
been caused by the return of the people to the island of Rongelap. However, the levels
were below the accepted permissible dose and no untoward effects are anticipated.
Because of the limited knowledge of the late effects of radiation in humans,it is considered
essential that medical surveys of the Rongelap people continue in order to detect and treat any
further effects from radiation that might develop. Although body burdens of radioactive iso-
topes were well below the accepted permissible dose levels, and while no further significant
UNCLASSIFIED
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