-5- 6. peta burns. Only 12 cases show residual changes in the skin from None show any evidence of cancerous change. 7. Possible late effects of radiation such as shortening of life span, premature aging, increased incidence of leukemia and malignancies, increased incidence of degenerative diseases, opacities of the lens of the eyes, and genetic changes have not been observed. 8. The original body burdens of internally absorbed fission products appears to be too low to have produced any acute or longterm effects. 9. The return of the people to the slightly contaminated islend of Rongelap has caused some increase in body burdens of Cesium37, Zinc) and Strontium”. However, the levels are far below the accepted maximm permissible dose and it is not believed any untoward effects will result. In view of the limited kmowledge of the late effects of radiation in human beings, it is considered essential that medical surveys of the Rongelap people continue to be carried out in order to detect and treat immediately any possible further effects of radiation that might develop. Though body burdens of radioactive isotopes are well below the accepted permissible dose levels and no further significant increase in these burdens is anticipated, a close check on these levels during future medical surveys is indicated. SIGNED: Robert A. Conard, M.D. Head, Marshall Island Medical Surveys joouls