Protocol 1974 Continued Page Six we will be set up in conjunction with the diabetic study station using the same hematolcgical technician. These studies will be done at Rongelap, Ebeye and Majuro. It is possible that over 200 children and parents will be available for this study. Radiological Surveys As a result of the nuclear bomb testing at Bikini, slight amounts of residual radiation exist in the environment of the atolls of Utirik, Rongelap and Bikini. The amounts are least on Utirik and most on Bikini. The people living at Rongelap and Utirik absorbed internally slight amounts of radio- nuclides, principally 137cs, 90sr (also some ©52n, 60Co and 55Fe). These levels have been far below the doses set as guidelines by the International Commission on Radiological Protection and otheragencies. There has been no indication cf any ill effects from these exposures, narare any expected. A peak dose of about 130 mr/year was estimated for the Rongelap people in 1958 with declining doses subsequently, Thus the accumulated bone marrow dose aver the years has most probably not been more than a couple of rads from internally absorbed emitters, . The return of the Bikini people to their home atoll in the near future will no doubt attract considerable attention. The radiological safety of their habitation on Bikini has been verified by numerous radiological surveys of the atoll including plant and marine life and an ad hoc committee on which I served years ago reviewed the then available data and decided that the return of the people "did not offer a significant threat to their health and safety", Recommendations were made to further reduce radiation levels on the island. At Rongelap annual assessment of the body burdens of radionuclides have been carried out largely hme by whole-body counting for gamma emitters (137¢s, §5Zn anc 60Co) and radiochemical analyses of 24-hr urine samples (largely of 90Sr, 137cs and *Pu). Numerous environmental radiation surveys have also been made including external radiation measurements, assays of Rongelap diets, edible plants, land crabs, soil, marine life, etc. The latter have provided valuable information concerning the transport of radionuclides from the environment to man. However, temporal correlation of these environmental data with body burdens of personnel has not been done satisfactorily. Therefore during the survey direct correlation of body burden data with environmental data will be attempted. In view of the imminent return of the Bikini people, a more up-to-date assessment of the radiation status of that island and the people living there is of importance and the forthcoming survey will afford an opportunity to accomplish this. Furthermore the input information on transfer of radionuclides from environ- ment to man on Rongelap and Utirik will be of great value in the assessment of the Bikini situation and now also Eniwetok, The fcllowing procedures are planned: