4
turn of the people to Rongelap. The bodylevels of
the unexposed people whoreturnedto theisland
also increased, becoming indistinguishable from
those of the originally exposed group. However,
the levels remain well below the maximum permissible limits. Analyses of bone samples on one of
complete or lost in most instances, andvital statis-
tics are therefore inadequate. Trust Territory
officials are now attempting to assemble such data.
3. There is uncertainty on the part of some of
the Marshallese as to their exact ages, particularly
amongthe older group. This imposes certain diffi-
the men whodied showed 3.7 strontium-90 units/g
culties in interpreting some of the studies to be
outlined.
OTHER STUDIES
COMPARISON POPULATIONS
calcium.
Other studies have been carried out on the
Rongelap people which are notdirectly related to
radiation effects. An intensive intestinal parasite
survey showed that the people were infected with
manytypes of protozoa and helminths. This find-
ing did not entirely account for the generally high
incidence of eosinophilia. Other findings that need
further explanation are the general anemic tendencies, the high plasma protein levels with increased gamma globulin, and the higher than
norma!levels of serum protein-bound iodine and
vitamin B,,. Another investigation is concerned
with genetic studies and determination of the
anthropological background of the Marshallese
from genetically determined traits. Among the
traits studied were blood groups and hemoglobin
and haptoglobin types. The results shed some light
on the origin of these people and the homogeniety
of the population. Their blood groups resemble
most closely those of the people from Southeast
Asia and Indonesia, and the population appears
to be relatively homogeneous.
DIFFICULTIES ASSOCIATED
WITH THE EXAMINATIONS
As mentionedin previousreports, several diffi-
culties were associated with carrying out the ex-
aminationsas weil as interpreting the findings.
1. The language barrier made examinations
difficult, since very little English is spoken by the
Marshallese. However, there were sufficient English-speaking Marshallese to assist the medical
team in most instances.
2. The lack of vital statistics or demographic
data on the Marshallese imposeda seriousdiffi-
culty in interpretation and evaluation of the medical data. Recordsof births, deaths, etc., have been
madeby the health aides or magistrates of the vil-
lages and supposedly forwardedto thedistrict ad-
ministrator; however, such records have beenin-
During thefirst 2 years, two separate groups of
Marshallese people were used for comparison,
each of comparablesize to the exposed Rongelap
group and matchedfor age and sex. However, this
population was foundto be unstable, with a large
attrition rate over the 2 years, which made it unsatisfactory. At the time of the 3-year survey, it
was found that during the preceding 12 months
the Rongelap population at Majuro Atoll had
doubled becauseof the influx of relatives who had
come back from otherislands to live with them.
These people had been away from Rongelap
Atoll at the timeof the accidenta! exposure. This
group matched reasonably well for age and sex
and wasof comparable size. Since the return of
the people to Rongelap, however, this group has
about doubledin size.
Since the people are of the same stock genetically, they are uniquely appropriate to serve asa
comparison population and have, therefore, been
used since 1957.
1959 Survey
BACKGROUND MATERIAL
Organization
For the 1959 survey, 5 years after the accident,
the medical team consisted of seven physicians,
one dentist, two scientific specialists, and nine
technicians from various institutions and laboratories in the United States. Several Marshallese
practitioners and interpreters assisted in carrying
out the examinations.
A group of five scientists from the University of
Washington, headed by Dr. E.E. Held, accom-
panied the groupto collect soil, marine, and plant
samples for radiochemical analysis. These studies
are not includedin this report.
Prior to the main survey on Rongelap, several
membersof the team visited Majuro to examine