One of the major problems the Department faced was determining whether fallout radiation from atmospheric weapon tests had caused cancer or leukemia among former soldiers or local off-site residents. The Marshallese and Japanese victims who received large doses of radiation from the Bravo fallout had been compensated for their injuries. But had the very low doses from fallout radiation also caused injury to others? Former military personnel who had -participated in troop maneuvers at the test site argued that soldiers were exposed to more radiation than previously believed and that the exposure had caused illness and death from cancer. Reports of the soldier's health problems and new studies among the Marshallese, which demonstrated the smaller the radiation dose the longer the period before thyroid tumors became evident, caused intense public anxiety and by the fall of 1977 had swamped the Departments of Energy and Defense with calls from cancer patients and their relatives.>” In Noverber 1978, in response to the outpouring of public concern President Carter ordered the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to establish a program of research on the effects of radiation exposure. In addition, Congress directed the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to establish a comprehensive program of research on the effects of low-lével radiation and to review all federal programs in this field. Cooperating with the Department of Health, Education, . and Welfare the Department of Energy opened its files on the effects cof radiation and atmospheric testing programs to federal -researchers and Congressicnal investigators. In February 1979 in response to a request