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BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY
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ASSOCIATED UNIVERSITIES, INC.. UPTON, LL. NY. 11973
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IMEDICAL DEPARTMENT
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TELCRONE: (516) 34535
July 23, 1976
Dr. James L. Liverman
Assistant Administrator for Environment and Safety
Energy Research and Development Administration
Washington, D. C. 20545
Dear Jim,
As you know, by copy of Ed Hardy's letter to me of 7~6-76, the
repeated
plutonium analyses on the urine
on Bikini obtained last April again showed
previously reported in his letter of March
also was the finding of similar low levels
samples of people living
about the same Icvels as
26, 1976.
Disturbing
of plutonium in the urines
of. residents of Rongelap Atoll. One wonders if perhaps people living
in other areas of the Marshalls, not directly invelved in the fallout,
might also show increased levels because of proximity to the proving
grounds.
We intend to check this.
In the meantime we are collecting
larger urine samples from individuals on Bikini and also pooled samples
from Bikini as well as Rongelap, Utirik and Wotje from the latter atolls
on the September survey. Analyses of other samples of dust, water, foods
etc. obtained in April on Bikini are still in progress here.
Yesterday I received a call from John de Young, Office of the Territories, Dept. of Interior, saying that he had received word from their
solicitor who had been in Majuro (Marshall Islands) stating that he
heard reports there that plutonium had been detected in the urines of
the Bikini people.
I am not sure where they got the information.
TI suspect that George Allen, the lawyer for the Bikini people, will be happy
to use’the information, to embarrass us.
I admitted to John that the |
report was true but pointed out that people all over the world have some
plutonium in their urines including people in New York and that we had
not been alarmed since the levels were low but that we were carrying out
continuing investigation of this finding.
Now that we have confirmatory
evidence of this finding I would recommend that you write a letter to the
Department of Interior with regard to the matter.
{69a5
As suggested in my letter of May 27, 1976. you may wish to consider
organizing a meeting with experts’ in the | field to advise us with regard
-to this problem.
Sincerely,
x
,
RAC sim
Robert. A. Conard, M.D.
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