— ~2During the second decade there have been more serious developments. Some Rongelap children showed growth retardation which was later realized to be associated with a hypothyroid condition due to radiation injury to the thyroid gland largely from radioactive iodine absorbed at the time of the fallout. The thyroid dose was estimated to be 335 rads for Rongelap adults and 700-1400 rads for children, the higher dose in children being due to the smaller size of their thyroid glands. In 1963 tumors of the thyroid began to appear in Rongelap children and to a lesser extent in adults. These tumors have continucd to develop in ensuing years until at the present time 29 of 86 Rongelap and Ailingnae people (about 1/3) have developed abnormalities of the thyroid gland, the majority in children. Age at Group Exposure Rongelap Ailingnae Combined << > << > << 10 10 10 10 10 < 10 ~ No. 22" 45 7 12 29 86 . Thyroid Abnormalities 18 5 2 4 20 (82%) . (11%) (29%) (36%) (70%) 29 (34%) Surgery 16 4 cancer 3 17 1 2 0 0 i 7 2 * 3 of these were exposed in utero, one of whom had non-malignant thyroid tumors removed. i 1 of these was exposed in utero, The table shows that 24 have had thyroid surgery in the United States with three of the tumors proving to be cancer. following surgery. No recurrence of tumors has been noted A low incidence of thyroid tumors has also been noted in the unexposed Rongelap control and in the low exposure Utirik groups. DOE ARCHIVES 9e2¢