401328 Draft 10/25/76 To The Chiefs and All The People in Utirik Atoll: Your letter to Mr. Roger Ray, dated July 1976, has been received in this office and we wish to thank you for bringing your thoughts to our attention. We have carefully considered your views and the opportunity. to answer your questions is appreciated. Following the accident in 1954 the American physicians and scientists involved, based on knowledge of human radiation effects available at that time, did not believe that the dose estimated to have been ceceived by the Utirik people would lead to diseases caused by radiation. Also, since they had shownuslactiteeffects and only a slight statistical depression of platelet counts, they were returmed to.their home island. However, it was considered prudent that the Utirik people should be examined at regular intervals and they were given complete physical examinations in 1957, 1959, 1963, 1966, 1969, 1972 and 1975. During: the past six years special attention | has been paid to thyroid examinations on an annual basis and all of the people on the island have been encouraged to be examined and treated by the physiciens at sick call. Since 1973 the resident physician has visited Utirik on a quarterly basis. Dr. Kotrady was employed by Brookhaven National ‘Laboratory to continue and expand the program initiated by Brookhaven and first carried out by Dr. Knudsen. in conducting the medical examinations on the Marshallese, a comparison (control) group was selected so that the exposed and non-exposed people could be compared. This comparison group was selected in 1958 from unexposed people of Rongelap. the A separate unexposed group of comparison people from Utirik was not considered necessary since the Rongelap group was considered adequate for comparison with both the peoples of Rongelap and Utirik. The slight genetic difference between the two exposed populations Loo Ss 5 ,,;.: