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Thyroid Neoplasia as a Late Effect of Acute Exposure to Radiofodines in Fallout*
This report concerns the recent development of thyroid neoplasta in
82 Marshallese people of Rongelap island who were accidentally exposed
to radioactive fallout in 1954 during the testing of thermonuclear
devices in the Pacific proving grounds.
a
During the two days before
ae
.
evacuation 64 people on Rongelap island received a whole body gamma
dose of ‘about 175 rads and 18 other Rongelap people on a nearby island about 69 rads.
In addition they sustained serious skin exposure and
significant internal absorption of radionuclides.
A third population
‘on the island of Utirik, 150 miles east of Rongelap, received only a
slight exposure and this group will only be referred to briefly in
- this report.
By 1957 the radioactive contamination of Rongelap island -
had reduced sufficiently to allow the people to be returned,
time a new village was constructed for them (Fig. 1).
At that
Fortunately over
.
200 Rongelap people (relatives of the exposed group) who had not been
exposed to fallout returned also and have served as an excellent
' comparison population.
oO
Annual medical examinations during the past 15 years have documented
the acute and late effects of this exposure on these populations!-3,-
The
people of Ronge lap had early acute signs of exposure including anorexia, |
nausea and vomiting followed later by the development of significant
but transient depression of the formed elements in their blood.
However,
no infections or bleeding tendencies were notedand no deaths occurred
which could be attributed to radiation exposure.
specific therapy was given,
*Research supported by
No prophylactic or
Radioactive contamination of the skin resulted
,
|
Y.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
{
DOE ARCHIVES - -
a 78!
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