Brief Summary of Medical Findings in the Marshallese
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Accidentally Exposed to Radioactive Fallout in 1954
The accidental exposure occurred on March 1, 1954 following detonation of a thermonuclear devise on Bikini in the Pacific Proving Grounds.
A shift in wind resulted in fallout on the following inhabited islands»
Island
Distance from Bikini
Rongelap
.
No. of People
Estimated
Gamma dose
105 miles
64
Ailingnae
110
"
18
69
Rongerik
135
26"
28°
70=—C""
Utirik
275
"
*
175 rads
158
14
"
="
American Service men
There were no deaths but certain acute effects were noted, particularly
in the Rongelap peeple.
Transcient depression of blood cells was follow-
ed by recovery to near normal levels by one year,
Fallout deposited on
the body resulted in skin burns and spotty loss of hair in the Rongelap,
Ailingnae and Rongerik groups,
out complications
in
The burns healed and the hair regrew with-
several months.
Urine analyses revealed that inter-
nal absorption of radioactive material had occurred from inhalation and
ingestion of contaminated food and water but no acute effects were oabserved from this source (as will be seen below late effects did occur).
Follow-up examinations during the first decade showed few findings
that could be related to radiation exposure.
Possibly related was the
‘ occurrence of about twice the number of miscarriages and stillbirtns
in the exposed compared with unexposed Rongelap women.
This differ-
ence was not seen af ery2 yee
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