. .
71
L
N-4B
The
following
National
letter
is from Dr. W. H. Adams of Brookhaven National
Dr. Roger Ray of DOE.
Laboratory to
—
21(!3
~ly
10,
1985
Mr. Roger Ray
for Pacific
Deputy
Nevada Operations
Operations
Office
Department
of Energy
P.o. Box 14100
89114
Las Vegas, NV
Dear
Roger:
In view
precipitated
have reviewed
that
supports
of Rrmgelap,
which
of the recent
evacuation
residual
radioactivity
by concern
about
harmful
our medical
records
to see if there
1s any
this
conclusion
and course
of action.
appears
on
cllnical
to have been
the ato~l,
we
evidence
Since 1957 an unexposed
population
of Ilarshallese
of Ronqelap
ancestry
has been examined
periodically
by the Urcokhaven
medical
team.
This
population
(the
Comparison
group)
is similar
in age and sex distribution
to
The reason
for examination
of the unexposed
the exposed
people
of Rongelap.
group has been to obtain
baseline
lncidences
of diseases
in the general
Narshallese
population
as an aid in detection
of previously
unfdentlficd
radiation
hazards
which might
affect
the exposed
group.
Collected
data on the unexposed
people
are
effect
of residence.on
Rongelap
(since
1957)
on
and blood
counts.
We have done a retrospective
records;
133 of the group are living
and 54 are
selected
for analysis
the following
dlvislons
of
sufficient
to assess
the
longevity,
thyroid
neoplasia,
analysis
of their
medical
We have arbitrarily
deceased.
on
years
of residence
Rongelap:
Short-term
Intermediate
Long-term
The place
- <3 years (averages
1.0 years)
years
(average,
7.5 years)
14
- 4 >15 years
(average,
20.9
years)
of residence
for
a given
year
is
received
his medical
examination.
individual
mfgratlon
of Marshallese
among the atolls,
always
be the same as the site
of residence.
be a good correlation
between
the two.
defined
as the place
where an
Since
there
is considerable
the site
of examination
may not
OveralJ,
however,
there
should