MEDICAL SURVEY OF THE PEOPLE OF RONGELAP AND UTIRIK ISLANDS NINE AND TEN YEARS AFTER EXPOSURE TO FALLOUT RADIATION (MARCH 1963 AND MARCH 1964) introduction The results of a medical survey of the people of Rongelap in the Marshail Islands, carried out in March 1963 and March 1964, 9 and 10 vears after the accident, are presented in this report. These people had been accidentally exposed to fallout radiation following a detonation of a high yield thermonuclear device during experiments at Bikini in the Pacific Proving Grounds in March 1954. An unpredicted shift in winds caused a deposition of significant amounts offallout on four inhabited Marshall Islands to the east of Bikini (see Figure 1) and also on 23 Japanese fishermen aboard their fishing vessel, the Lucky Dragon. Of the inhabitants of the island of Rongelap, 105 nautical miles away from the detonation. 64 re- ceived the largest fallout exposure: an estimated dose of 175 rads of whole-body gammaradiation, contamination of the skin sufficient to result in beta burns, and slight internal absorptionof radioactive materials through inhalation and ingestion. Another 18 Rongelap people away on a nearby island (Ailingnae), where less fallout occurred, received only an external gamma dose of about 69 rads. There were 28 American servicemen on the radioactive contamination was slight enough to allow safe habitauion. Because Rongelap Atodlwas considered to be too highly contaminated, a temporary village was constructed for the Rongelap people on Majuro Atoll several hundred miles to the south, where they lived for the following 3/2 years and were examined at yearly intervals by a special medical team, In July 1957, after careful evaluation of the radioactive contaminationsituation, Rongelap Island was corsidered safe fohabitation. A new village was constructed, and the Rongelap people were moved there by Navy ship. The annua! medical surveys have since been car- ried out on Rongeiap Island. A group of more than 100 Rongelap people, who were relatives of the exposed people but had been away from the island at the time of the acci- dent, moved back with the Rongelap people to their home island and have served as an ideal com,.. rison population for the studies. This num- ber has since increased to about 200. Following the initia! survey of the Curik people on Kwa- jalein in 1954, a repeat survey was carried out in March 1957. In addition. during the past survey, 500+ 200 island of Rongerik further to the east who received about the same amount of radiation as did the Rongelap people on Ailingnae. Lastly, 157 Marshallese on Uuirik Island, about 200 miles fur- & UTR ther east, received about an estimated 14 rads of whole-bedy radiation. T*.e fallout was not visible on this island and noskin effects developed. The exposed people were evacuated from these islands by plane and ship about two davs after the accident and taken to Kwajalein Naval Base about a WAJALEIN ° ~ 3 maw EAEL, 130 miles to the south, where they received exten- sive examinations tor the following three months. American servicemen, they were later returned to Q In view of the generally negative findings on the Figure |. Mapof Fallout Area (Miorch 1, 1954), Marshail Islands. MAIURO Q S % ee ee their duty stations. The Utink people were also allowed to return to their home isiand, where o 13 preceded by disorientation and amnesia with conne enbneetle.