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-