18 Alingnae - 69 R

b.

received

evaluation of the exposed population, an agesex matched cohort was established for the
seople of Rongelap. No cohort was established
Tne people of Utirik were returned to
for Utirik.
the people
their island 3 months post-exposure;
Follow up
of Rongelap, 3 years post-exposure.

Following an extensive medical and radiologic

specialists from the AEC and other nuclear labs.

they were cared for by a team of radiation

to Kwaialein, where

The ex: 7sed populations were evacuated

in a period ot +3-72 hours,

5.

an unknown amount on Rongerik; 158 people on
In addition, all of
Utirik received 14 R.
these islands received an unknown amount of
short-lived radio-nuclides - predominantly
icdine.

Twenty-eight servicemen

Alingnae received an unknown amount (ap-

Rongelaoa received 175 R of gamma radia-

ce. 158 Jtirik - 14

4 in utero

64 Rongelap - 175 R

a.

Populations under study have included:

prox. 69 R).

cion;

4.

3.

Recent developments in 1978 and 1979 have opened the possibility that islands other than thow

2.

Islands involved have included
2.
Rongelap, Alinznae, Rongerik and Utirik.

The Secretary of State of the newly formed Marshall Island government, Mr. Anton deBrum

We have no solid information on the size of the population sampled.

However,

the survey has

assurances have been made to the Marshall Islands gov't.

that a careful and scientifically valid

do raise the possibility of an unexpected incidence of the aforementioned diseases in Likiep. This
information has been presented to US - Department of Interior and US - Department of Energy and

in their present format is impossible from an epidemiologic standpoint, however the questionnaires

revealed an unusually high prevalence of "positive" results. The questionnaires have been completed
by individuals and in many cases, by health care personnel. Interpretation of these questionnaires

1954.

Likiep and some surrounding atolls the prevalence of “thyroid” and "congenital" abnormalities since

deBrum designed and circulated a medical questionaire to determine from a number of the people of

5. ‘fhe inhabitants of all islands other than Rongelap, Utirik, Alingnae and Rongerik have been
reassured repeatedly that they have not been exposed to "significant" radiation. Recently, Mr.

of palpable thyroid nodules in an “unexposed” population, Current data indicate that this population might in fact have had a higher than ambient radiation exposure.

4.
In 1970, Dr. R. A. Cénard (then director of the BNL Marshall Island Study) visited Likiep
and attempted to perform a complete survey of the island aimed at detecting the presence of thyroid
nodules by palpation of all available inhabitants. During this survey 135 people were examined and
5 nodules were detected.
Of the three major populated islands in the atoll, one was surveyed.
In 1977, a similar survey was carried out on Wotje. Two of the fqur inhabited islands in
the atoll were visited.
The visits to Likiep and Wotje were designed to determine the presence

of thyroid and congenital abnormalities in the people of Likiep.

Geiber Muller counter clicking rapidly during the counting of the feet of many of the inhabitants
being surveyed. During the ensuing 25 years, Mr. deBrum states he has noted a “very high" incidence

type of fallout.
He remembers the visit of the Renshaw and states that a number of the people of
the island underwent personal dosimetry.at the time of the visit. He states he can remember the

3.

states that as a child on Likiep at the time of the Bravo test on 3/1/54, he noted a particulate

icant increase in background radiation at least on the island of Likiep (7 300mr/hr measured from
the water of the cistern of the Catholic school.

designated in the traditional study may have received variable amounts of radiation, producing a
wide spectrum of long term low level radiation of variable intensity.
Recently obtained information
from the papers of the USS Renshaw seem to indicate that on March 5-6, 1954 that there was a signif-

Same

1.

EXPANDED CHARACTERISTICS

410287

Directed toward early detection treat1.
ment, and prevention of radiation induced
.lisease.

TRADITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

AND REQUIRED REVISIONS IN LIGHT OF ACTUAL AND PROJECTED EXPANSION

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE TRADITIONAL (1954 - 1978) BNL MEDICAL PROGRAM

Select target paragraph3