days before their evacuation.

They absorbed radioactive fission products

in the food and water that they consumed.
revealed the presence of various isotopes.

Radiochemical urine analysis
As seen in the following table

the isotopes of strontium and iodine contributed the largest dose.
Estimated Body Burden of Rongelap People

(Ci)

Activity at
Day 1

Activity at
_ Day 82

895,

1.6-2.2

0.19

14054

0.34-2.7

0.021

Isotope

Rare Earths

131i in thyroid
gland)

0.12

0.03

6.4-11.2

0.0

10324

0-0.013

-

Ca

0-0.019

0.0

45

Fossile Material

0-0.16 (ugm)

0.0

More will be said shortly about the radioiodine dose to the thyroid gland.
No acute effects of this internal exposure were apparent in the people and
by six months the urinary excretions indicated greatly reduced body burdens.
When the people were returned to Rongelap in 1957 a slight residual radioactive
contamination of the island resulted in the accumulation of detectable but low
body burdens of 13765 °° 2n and 205,
Before discussing the thyroid effects in the exposed people, let us
examine certain other late findings, some of which, appear to have been related
to their radiation exposure.

During the years after the accident the exposed

people have remained generally in good health with no greater incidence of

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