THYROID ABNORMALITIES IN A MARSHALLESE POPULATION EXPOSED TO RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT IN 1954 Vr: Propress Report, Auperrst—Ht, 19066 During the past three years the development of thyroid nodules and hypothyroidism has been noted in a number of Marshallese people of Rongelap Island in the Pacific who had been exposed to radioactive fallout 12 years ago in 1954. This development is believed to be a late effect of irradiation of the thyroid gland from internal absorption of radioiodines and external gamma radiation at the time of the fallout, There were 64 people (54 now MAEStlh living) who received a whole body dosé of gamma radiation of 175 rads, extensive direct irradiation of the skin from deposition of fallout thereon and internal absorption of radionuclides in the fallout, Ronpelap people (14 now Living) Eighteen other received a lesser exposure of 69 rads gamma along with less dose to the skin and fatlernal absorption of fess amounts of radioclements, During the 2-day period following the accident before the evacuation of the people occurred, the inhabitants absorbed radionuclides in the fallout by inhalation and ingestion of contaminated food and drinking water, Based on radiochemical analyses of pooled urine samples taken several weeks after the accident it was estimated that che adult thyroid pland received about 160 rads from the radioiodine plus another 175 rads from the external pamma radiation, Taken into consideration in those calculations were the time and length of the fallout period, the isotope energies of the various iodine nuclides, and the yield of the isotopes, Extrapolation to thyroid doses that the smaller thyroid ‘glands of the young children received was ‘in the range of 700-1400 rads in the more heavily exposed group. Though “beta burns’ were prevalent in the neck