Enclosure 5
LETTER TO EXAMINING PHYSICIAN
SUBJECT:
Medical Evaluation of Nuclear Weapons Test
Participants
TO:
1.
Medical Officer Performing Examination
The Department of Defense (DoD), with the cooperation of the
Veterans Administration (VA), has undertaken an extensive personnel
data collection program called the Nuclear Test Personne]. Review
(NTPR) -— a program encompassing all DoN-affiliated individuals who
participated in the atmospheric nuclear weapons test program,
1962.
1945-
This population group consists of past and present uniformed
military personnel,
civil servants,
and contractor employees.
2.
Our records show that the bearer of this letter is a veteran and
a nuclear weapons test participant.
He has been offered the availability of a current medical examination through the resources of your
facility.
Authorities for you to administer the examination are (a)
VA-DMS Cir 10-78-69 of Apr 7, 1978, subject: Nuclear Tests and
Ionizing Radiation, (b) DMS Cir 10-79-82 of Apr 12, 1979, subject:
Extension of DMS Cir 10-78-69, (c) DMS Cir 10-79-2150 of July 10, 1979,
subject: Medical Examinations, Nuclear Test Participants, and (d)
a recent DMS hot line notification concerning test participants with
annual exposures in excess of 5 rem to be followed shortly by a new
DMS circular similar to (c).
.
3. This extensive effort is being undertaken in an attempt to ascertain whether there are long-term medical effects of low-level exposure to ionizing radiation. Data from the NIPR program, to include
radiation exposure levels, and, in selected cases, medical examination
data, will be made available to the Center for Disease Control and the
National Academy of Sciences.
These organization will evaluate information obtained from the NTPR population and compare it with a comparable
control population to ascertain if there are alterations in the frequency
of specific diseases in the test participants compared to the controls.
If there is a statistically significant increase in the incidence of a
group of diseases, an epidemiological investigation will be initiated
to attempt to establish an etiologic vector.
4.
In reviewing the patient's history prior to or subsequent to his
nuclear weapons test participation, particular attention should be
directed to additional occupational or medical radiation exposures.
Alterations in the individual's health pattern should be noted chrono-
ud