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UNITED STATES
ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
WASH nit
NM
*
JC
Admiral Arieigh A. Burke, USE
Chief of Maval Operations
Departasnt of the Navy
358
410716
Washington 25, D.C.
You will recall that as a result of the March 1 detonation of the CASTLE
test series comiucted by JTF-7 in the Pacific in 195), the natives of
Rongelap and Utirlk Atolls in the Marshall Islands were exposed to radioactive fallout. The Atomic Energy Comission, on behalf of the U. S.
Government, has accepted responsibility for periodic medical examinations
of these Marshallese, Since that time there have been five follow-up
medical examinations conducted by the AEC in collaboration with the Naval
kedical Research Institute, the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory and
the Brookhaven National Laboratory. These exacinations were greatly
facilitated by the assistance afforded the medical teams by CI PACFL?
and the Comanding Officer KAVSTAT Ad.
The fifth follow-up examinations during February=April, 1958 for the
first time employed the whole body counter, an electronic device far
the meaesurenent and identification of the total body burden of contamti-
nating radioisotopes. It proved an unqualified success in that it provided
direct data on the type and decree of internal contarination of a muber of
the islrniers, It wrs also nseful in establishing thit there was residual
Lélic ctivity present in certain foous tc other metertials, Since it ia
likely that the current series of testa has atic l to the contamina ico
level of t'.ese islancs, it is mcre thar ever irmeretive to contin:« these
re ideal follo.eum stucies an. to extend ‘he morve: to a detailed exaninasvior of t
e olocicna] arracts of thy ve islom .$ special attention mist
it ociwen* tt
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ft is pr:-csec thet a team of alicel
6S be ecrt to these islatis with their recricc.
technica. assistanc>.,
The experience of last
~ whtth yoo - ar...tly provided the LST fF. 5
Doty ywoltu us to request tht an 1.7 a:ain be assipnmed fer trarce-
Tortation amd basti:- berinnine sac tise betwecn the middle of February
= itso first of varch, 1937, ar. regoirin- about one month overall for
co.rletion ef itssicn, /¢n'. 7 rroved to nave many acvantares over other
croft, nei tre leest of which was its ability to accert and secure the
életen @delu:. ..* lroca cl the wheile buy counter on its tank cecr,
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181 AGENCY /NRDL
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Location
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Access No, [ f i
Gi- 225
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