QFFICIAL USE ONLY A. - BEBCuRSTON Status of Rongelapese Health 5. Pertinent to any discussion ef the return of the Rongelapese to their home island is the body. insult suffered from the fallout on . March 1, 1954. Gne group of 6h peoplereceived about 175 roentgens whole body gama radiation, and a second group of 18received 69 roentgens. ‘he most hiphly exposed group might have received an adfitional 100 - 150 reps to the thyroid from internally deposited tsotopes ef iodine. the deposition of bone seeking isotopes was very small and st tvo years the body burden of atrontium-%, as estimated by urinalysis was little greater than for controls in the United States. Of the G2 individuels exposed, 45 experienced superficial skin lesions and 13 deep lesions while 35 shoved gone degree of epilation. 6. . The present condition of the Rongelap people is best described by the results of the two year medical exauinattan rt "The medical survey of the Hongelap people two years after exposure to fallout radiation shova that the people appear to have been in genérally good state of health and nutrition and are - making satisfactory recovery frag their radiation exposure. ilineases nor clinical findings im other individuals can te. -. - attributed to radiation effects. One death in May 1955, that of i} Serious iliness hes occurred in two individuals but neither these & b6uyesr-o0ld Rangelap man, was ane to hypertensive heart disease. Previous examinations hed shown that the dieeuse ws undoubtedly | present at the time of expowure to fallout radiation. . “There is evidence of continued tuprovement of bemopoicsis. The mean lymphotytecount is slightiy inemezeed over the one-year levels, but is still siightly below the mean sonmtrol count. The mean platelet level is atout the seme as framist one year after exposure and is still alightly below the comtrol level. ‘The delsy gnenterek Mapes in-singbrpalpand ren+penha ar erasmane that reported in the twoeyear etu@ies of the Japanese casualties of the atomic banbings + Svidence from the Yershallese expertence indicates that the lowered levels of these 2002046 blood elements have not lowered the resistance of the people to * Medical Survey of Marshallese T.o Years After Exposure to Fahia igut Radiation. Comard, 3. a. et ul. Brookhaven National Laboratory, Mamh, i750.