instances,
ani
the
cOunterproductive
effects
ct
the
in explaining the nature cer radiation
residual
radioactive contamination on human
an rn
nee TEAS LOTAS Rave Le a ascltectioe oven sheesh arctrran oon
Marshallese any English and clearly aimed ata lay audience. Most
arshnallese
simply cannot understand
the
text.
Moreover,
the pre-
sooye
OQ)
ove
Oo
om
tO
Ar G
wbu
+]
cr GO
in
3
ntation of the results in terms of the average risk of dying of
-- perhaps presented this way in an effort to simplify the
-- tends to mask the variability of the data and its unainties,
making
the
results
misleading.
ath reaard to the second area, the US medical surveillance program
conducted by Brookhaven National Laboratory under DOE contract is
narrowly focused research
effort to identify the late effects
r radiation in the most héavily exposed Marshallese people. The
treatment by the US of radiation induced health effects and compen-
cation for these effects have been largely but not totally limited
tr. thomeffects which have been clearly identified by the surveillance
crecgram as being radiation induced, mainly, thyroid abnormalities
among those most heavily exposed to the fallout from the Bravo test.
Health effects that have not been statistically linked to radiation
in the Marshallese pcpulation under study are generally not
treated -- exceptions have been made but generally these have not
been in accord with Brookhaven's contract with DOE -- and the
victims are not compensated. In effect, the burden of proof lies
met with
the US
to demonstrate
the disease
is
not radiation
- it with the victim to demonstrate that it was.
induced,
T..e@ US Government -- and perhaps the United Nations -- should consider whether the medical surveillance program should be sc narrowly
t-€ined; whether the people in the surveillance program who have
Leen categorized as “unexposed controls" should be so categorized;
and whether the level of compensation and the people who qualify for
it are appropriately defined.
Nearly everyone with whom we spoke felt that the Marshall Islands
has
serious,
unique health problems
health care facilities
and
inadequate care
(the
lack of
is obvious even to the casual observer);
that
a.l of the people should be given comprehensive health care regardless of whether they have been categorized as "exposed" or “unex-
posed"; that the new Marshall Islands Government does not have adequate capacity to do this; and that it is the responsibility of
tne US government not just to give funding, but to ensure by all
reasonable means
that
such care
is
made
available.
Moreover,
a
Marshalls government-endorsed independent medical survey midht be
helpful in moving more decisively in this direction.
There is widespread distrust by Marshallese of US scientists involved in radiation monitoring and health surveillance programs.
Among the Marshallese who are participants in the Brookhaven surveillance program some have even
used as
test was
‘guinea pigs');
not
an
said,
"the Marshallese
are
accident.”Unfortunately
the
scientists working
are forced to carry em the baggage of mistakes and changes
colicy accumulated over
being
"and that the fallout from the 1954 Bravo
the
past
37
years.
in
today
Weheard ulterior motives
‘tributed to the DOE's educations efforts reaqarding residual radiation. Some charge that scientists are giving conflicting messages.
-3-