_ BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE UNCLASPUFIED | thereafter. The Rongeladpese who for the first year of reoccupation and will gradually decline higher islanas could be exposed to levels of radioactivityg go on fishing expeditions to other time is spent on fishing boats over Waters with than those of Rongelap. however. much of their external gamma radiation received by the gamma activity near background values. Thus the initially 0.5 roentgen or less per yeaM. Rongelapese as a whole can be expected to be There is no radiation standard which applies directly to the Rongelap situation] n standards established for normal atomic energyactivities involving much larger However, bers of data. For occupation&l conpeople may be of some significance in evaluating the Rongelap recommends that Measurement and Protection Radiation on Committee National the ditions, adult workers not be exposed to more than 0.3 rem (roentgen equivalent for man) off whole body radiation per week, or a 13-week dose of 3 rems when the weekly limit 1s exceeded] This maximhum perstandard is further restricted by an age qualification, which provides that the missible accumulated dose in rems, at any age, is equal to five times the number of years beyond age 18, provided no annual increment exceeds 15 rems. Thus, for persons qver 18 eee ewe eT the years of age the accumulated maximum permissible dosage is 5(N-18) rems, where@N is double. is valup the which for skin, the except age. This standard applies to all critical organs For a large population, in contrast with the small group of Rongelapese, the maxim—m perperiod missible exposure is an average of 14 million rems per million persons during the thereafter. decade each in amount that of one-third and 30, of from conception up to the age a oh 90 Food Supply and Body Content of Strontium food chain offthe Strontium 90 is the radioactive isotope of principal concern in the : Islands surveyed shows aldecline of Marshallese. Analysis of the results from all the Pacific gns of land strontium 90 with the passage of time, except in the land crabs. Additional collecti e in strontiugh 90 accrabs will be made on Rongelap to establish the reason for the increas tivity. Maximum permissible exposure to strontium 90 for the general population, in terms of maintained level in the body, 1s 100 Sunshine Units (100 micromicrocuries of stronflum 90 per gram of calcium). Exposure of the Rongelapese can be reduced by eliminating Jand crabs Because from the diet and by reducing the consumption of such native plants as pandanus. only a part of the strontium 90 will go from food to bone, these measures may limigthe ulti- 2 aereiage we Ht mate body burden for the Rongelapese to substantially less than 100 Sunshine Units nee te Am oe Rongelap during the period of Swine, chickens, ducks, and rats have continued to live on Examinations offrats colhighest strontium 90 contamination in the soil-plant-animal cycle. gross or pathological changes no show fallout initial the after years lected and sacrificed two . radiation. that could definitely be ascribed to Medical Surveillance ae AAAina Sie 1eA they will be givenJ When the Rongelap people are returned to their home island, regular a and an annual examination py serv monthly medical examinations by local health personnelmain ices. ed for regular healfh tain be will ry ensa disp A s. State ed physician from the Unit re harmful effafts result. Any unusual body accumulation of strontium 906 will be detected befo Biological Surveys gds is being A summary report of the several biological surveys made of the Marshall Isla University of Washington, the prepared by the AEC staff. The basic studies were made by the and Safety Laborgtory. Health York and the New Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory, UNCLASSIFIED 39 :