-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. we ospncn i