The medical survey of the Marshallese people who had been exposed to
radioactive fallout in 1954 was carried out in March, 1966, 12 years after
the accident.

The medical team consisted of four members sponsored by

Brookhaven National Laboratory (2 physicians and 2 technicians) and four from
the Trust Territory (1 physician, 1 practitioner, and 2 technicians).
Dynamic demographic data were obtained at each island, and examinations
of exposed people included interval medical histories, complete physical
examinations (emphasis on thyroid and cancer surveys), routine hematological
studies, urine analyses, x-rays of childrens' wrists and hands for growth
data and other x-rays as indicated; thyroid uptake and excretion studies, and
thyroid scans (using 1'3?) in selected cases with thyroid abnormalities.
Medical treatment was given to those who needed it.
There were 176 exposed people examined, 71 Rongelap and 105 Utirik
people located as follows:
Group

At Majuro

Ronge lap

At Ebeye

At Rongelap

At Utirik

7

23

4l

-

Utirik

12

15

_—

78

Total

19

38

4l

78

*

In addition, thyroid examinations were conducted on 194 unexposed people at
Rongelap and Utirik,

Of main interest were the thyroid findings which are summarized in the
attached tables,

During the past three years definite nodules of the thyroid

gland have been noted in 16 exposed people and hypothyroidism in an additional
two cases.

All but one case occurred in the more heavily exposed population

(55 living of the original 64 people) who received about 175 rads of whole
body gamma radiation.

soo 101

Seventy-nine percent of these thyroid abnormalities

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