WAY a D BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY ASSOCIATED UNIVERSITIES, INC. k REFER: UPTON, L.I. N.Y. 11973 TEL. AREA CODE S16 YAPHANK 4-6262 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT April 9, 1969 Dr. John R, Totter, Director Division of Biology & Medicine U. S. Atomic Energy Commission Washington, D. C. 20545 Dear John: I have three matters that I should like to bring up. First the medical survey in the islands went very smoothly. We 2 gtSpatnPo SR a RIE RS Ss P found one new thyroid case in an adult exposed Rongelap women and three — people at Kili and had an opportunity to explain to -them the purpose of the urine examinations and whole body checkups that will be conducted in the future. They asked a number of questions, the chief of which regarded concern over the safety of Bikini from the radiation point of view. I assured them on this point and believe that I answered their questions to their satisfaction. — 7 In regard to a whole body counting facility at Bikini, while at AEC Honolulu I learned that a bunker facility on Bikini island is available and seems adequate from several points of view: it is spacious, it is © shielded by earth and I believe the radioactivity levels are quite low inside, a water catchment system is possible from the top of the bunker, and a shower facility can be constructed within the bunker. We believe it would be possible to bring in light weight 2 1/2 KV generators to furnish sufficient electricity. AEC Honolulu probably has thought about — the cost of adapting this for our use. ‘ My, wy, ~ ve Item 2 - During the past four years we have carried out medical examinations at Utirik island on two occasions, including this survey. This was subsequent to the compensatory payment of the Rongelap people and the Utirik people have had an undercurrent of dissatisfaction that they had not received any payment, having been involved in the same fallout i ar aH yh | other cases in children that had not responded satisfactorily to treatment. There was also one suspicious thyroid nodule in a Utirik woman. We plan on bringing these five cases back to BNL the latter part of this summer for evaluation and surgery. During the survey I visited the Bikint REPOSITORY poe [PASO_ COLLECTION —~ 909201) ——— 3” ya, “Enpa® 2BOX No. “B0-ME B Ded , CONARD FOLDER Ru — _——