BAUR DalMattiPa eweeeee nSa tilb MEDICAL SURVEY OF RONGELAP PEOPLE SEVEN YEARS AFTER EXPOSURE TO FALLOUT Introduction The results of a medical survey of the people of Rongelap in the Marshall Islands, carried out in March 1961 at 7 years after the accident, are presented in this report. These people had been accidentally exposed to fallout radiation following a detonation of a high yield thermonuclear device during experiments at Bikini in the Pacific Proving Grounds in March 1954. An unpredicted shift in winds caused a deposition of significant amounts of fallout on four inhabited Marshall Islands to the east of Bikini (see Figure 1) and also on 23 Japanese fishermen aboardtheir fishing vessel, the Lucky Dragon. Of the inhabitantsofthe island of Rongelap, 105 nautical miles away from thedetonation, 64 received the largest fallout exposure: an estimated dose of 175 r of whole-body gamma radiation, contamination of the skin sufficient to result in beta burns, andslight internal absorption of radioactive materials through inhalation and ingestion. Another 18 Rongelap people away on a nearby island (Ailingnae), where less fallout occurred, received only an external gammadose of ’ about 69 r. There were 28 American servicemen on the island of Rongerik further to the east who received about the same amount of radiation as did the Rongelap people on Ailingnae. Lastly, 157 temporary village was constructed for the Rongelap people on Majuro Atoll several hundred miles to the south, where they lived for the following 3% years and were examined at yearly intervals by a special medical team. In July 1957, after careful evaluation of the radioactive contaminationsituation, Rongelap Island was consideredsafe for habitation. A new village was constructed, and the Rongelap people were moved there by Navy ship. The annual medical surveys have since been carried out on Rongelap Island. A group of more than 100 Rongelap people, whowererelatives of the exposed people but had been awayfrom theislandat the timeof the accident, moved back with the Rongelap people to their home island and have served as an ideal comparison populationfor the studies. Following the initial survey of the Utirik people on Kwajalein in 1954, a repeat survey wascarried outin March 1957. In addition, during the past survey, as in the previous surveys, a visit was made to Majuro Atoll to examine a groupof children who represent part of the control group usedfor the growth and developmentstudies of the exposed children. Marshallese on Utirik Island, about 200 miles further east, received about an estimated 14 of whole-body radiation. Thefallout wasnotvisible on this island and no skin effects developed. The exposed people were evacuated from these islands by plane and ship abouttwo daysafter the accident and taken to Kwajalein Naval Base about 150 miles to the south, where they received extensive examinations for the following three - SSUTIRIK™ NGERIK” ~~ 2 TeeSARO oe RONGELAP .- 7 7 AILINGINAE wr - - ; a ; oat 9 Syne Y months. In viewof the generally negative findings on the American servicemen, they werelaterre- & were also allowed to return to their homeisland, Q turned to their duty stations. The Utirik people PO Fao Crt cS Cy where radioactive contamination wasslight enough to allow safe habitation. Because Rongelap Atoll was considered to be too highly contaminated, a 6 9 9 ° MAJUROND Figure 1. Map of fallout area (March 1, 1954), Marshall Islands.