-3-
;
to their home island several months after the fallout would not have contributed to any significant increase in dose since surveys of the island
revealed that the radiation levels were very low, the gamma exposure less
than
m rads per day, not significantly higher than many places in the
world and the levels of radioisotopes in soil and plants were well below
the accepted permissible levels’.
The radiation dose to the thyroid glands was higher than the dose to
the rest of the body because of selective absorption by the thyroid of
radioiodines inhaled and ingested from contaminated food and water at the
time of the fallout.
The radiation dose to the thyroid glands of the
Utirik people was estimated to be about 30 rads for adults and between
30 and 90 rads for children compared with 335 rads for adults and up to
700 - 1400 rads for children exposed on Rongelap.
By the time the people
returned to Utirik the radioiodines had virtually disappeared so that no
further significant thyroid exposure was possible to anyone living on the
island at that time.
The development of thyroid cancer in the Utirik people within the past
few years was unexpected.
Statistical comparison of thyroid cancer inci-
dence at Utirik with the larger experience of the United States indicates
that radiation very likely was involved.
Accordingly it was recommended
to the Department of Interior that all Utirik people who have thyroid
operations be considered for compensation similarly to the Rongelap people.
Compared with limited data on the unexposed Marshallese populations there
has been only. a very slight increase, if any, in non-cancer thyroid nodules
in the Utirik people.
The three cases of thyroid cancer in the Utirik
eo
If used this statement should be completed and checked out.
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