readings, Lessard et al. concluded that the residents of Utirik will receive an additional 0.041 Sv from external sources over the 50 years following rehabilitation and that the residents on Rongelap residents will receive an additional 0.017 Gy. They also project that the external exposure rate will decline to natural background levels by about 2072. These additional doses average 0.34 mGy (34 mrad)/year and 0.82 mGy (82 mrad)/yr respectively, which are comparable to rates from natural background. The cumulative absorbed doses are lower than the prompt external whole-body doses received by the Rongelap inhabitants by about a factor of 30, but are comparable to those received on ‘Utirik. These doses, however, will be delivered over 50 years at low-dose rates. 45 Early Medical Findings 4.5.1 Acute Systemic Effects Abouttwo-thirds of the individuals exposed in 1954 to fall-out on Rongelap are reported to have experienced anorexia and nausea during the first two days after exposure. In a few cases, vomiting and diarrhea were reported. Only about 5% of the Ailingnae group was so affected. Depression of certain blood elements, especially lymphocytes and platelets, was observed over the first few weeks reaching levels of about one-half to one-fourth normal values. The change was greatest among children. Relative to the Rongelap group, this depression was muchless among the Ailingnae group and the U.S. servicemen, and only slight for the Utirik group. At six weeks post-exposure, recovery of the blood elements had progressed to near but below normal values. 4.5.22 Acute Local Lesions Itching and burning of exposed skin were reported by most of the Rongelap individuals. These symptoms were not noted by the people on Utirik or U.S. Military Personnel on Rongerik. Following subsidence ofinitial skin symptoms, there were no further symptoms referable to tha,skin until about 14 days post-exposure when lesions appeared on areas of 25