|
z
\
.
’
.
--.
.
:
:
~
a
“4
.
.
.
.
Voy Ny
wee a dN
:
NaN
IS
TT mmof eer
a Na er ke a
-
_—
f/
y
aru ety
C4
ce me ep
em om em ne
weet ee ee eee Lames wet ee
UNIV ESS,
A
UPTON, NEW YORK 11973
AOS SS
meee
PUSLIC RELATIONS OF F, CE
pe FOR-RSLEASE: - sriawy;GMey 21, 1968
CONTACT: Tel: (516) 924-6262 Ext: 435
Norb Dernbach
cr,BB 20
cation
ROOXEAVEN TEAM
Coliectioa
é
.
AS eo ATeo
;
L AUUR AUST
7A eer
am
_
_—-
REPORTS ON 1968 EXAMINATION
OF MARSHALLESE EXPOSED TO FALLOUT IN 1554
FolderPrey =
pun
<J
—_—
£ :
-
.
Upton, N.Y., May z4, 1968--Dr. Robert A. Conard (MD), head of the Brooxhaven
National Laocoratory mecical team that conaucts the annual examination of the Marsnail Isiancers who were exposed to failout from a 1954 Bixini bomb test, reported
two new cases or thyroid abnormalities
(in the form of nodules) in the group who
weré uncer ten years of age when exposed on Rongelap, the atoll nearest the test
Site.
Tacre were i9 children uncer ten exposed to the fallout, of which 17 nave
now Gevelioped thyroid nodules.
These patients are currentiy 15 to 24 years old.
fn unexpecced wind shift during the 1954 test carried the fallout from Bikini
pb
earest and most heavily exposed were 64 Marshailese at Rongelap.
i<
tT
ri
poSure.
4
ew
om
La}
ne
rd
*
ao
eyo
.
7
~-m4
ania
by!
oO
bia
Qf
ct
the western enc oi the Marsnall Islands back over severai islands located east
Shallese at Ailingnae and 157 at Ucirik receiving a much lesser ex-
Wnese people are examined on a reguiar schecule.
To provide a comparison
wita the exposed populace, a control group of 194 unexposed Marshallese is also examined, but on a less frequent schedule.
ane selection of age 10 at the time of fallout exposure as a group designation
cid not occur until a few years ago, and was done primarily as the result of a
fn
tatisticai observation.
According to Dr. Conard, the reason these children show-
ci)
dg a higher incidence of thyroid abnormalities is probably because their thyroid
gianas weve smaiier and received a larger comparative radiation dose.
The estimated dose to the thyroid in the 19 children uncer 10 years of age
on Rongelap was from 875 to 1575 rads, with 90 percent of them developing thyroia
lities.
For the 45 Rongelap people greater than 10 years of age at exposure
time, the thyroid dose was estimated at 335 rads, with 5.5 percent developing
thyroid abnormalities.
Six children under 10 years of age on Ailingnae and 40
children on Utirix received thyroid doses from 230 to 725 rads, with no develop-
The
w
ee
*
The exposec aduit population had a much lower incicence
om
kt
rt
t4
fi
Oo
fh
@
rm
Qo
¢
oO
"i
rt
mh
oO
he
ment of any adnormalities.
term rac means racGiation —
ebsorbed —
cose.
<A Gose of one
rad means the ab-
Sorption of i00 ergs of raciation energy per gram of adsorbing Materia..
Cop;
LAN ©D/D0g
fom area \
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
¢v