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Bricf Summary of Medical Findings in the Marshallese
“Ze
Accidentally Exposed to Radioactive Fallout in 1954
AMoct
ys
ty
The accidental exposure occurred on March 1, 1954 following detonaee
tion of a thermonuclear devise on Bikini in the Pacific Proving Grounds.
A shift in wind resulted in fallout on the following inhabited islands*
Island
Distance from Bikini
Rongelap
.
105 miles
Ailingnae
110
—o"
Rongerik
135
="
Utirik
275
"
Estimated
No. of People
Gamma dose
64
'
175 rads
18
oo
"
28°
70
="
158
4
American Service men
There were no deaths but certain acute effects were noted, particularly
in the Rongelap people.
Transcient depression of blood cells was follow-
ed by recovery to near normal levels by one year.
Fallout deposited on
the body resulted in skin burns and spotty loss of hair in the Rongelap,
Ailingnae and Rongerik groups.
out complications
in
The burns healed and the hair regrew with-
several months.
Urine analyses revealed that inter-
nal absorption of radioactive material had occurred from inhalation and
ingestion of contaminated food and water but no acute effects were observed from this source (as will be seen below late effects did occur).
Follow-up examinations during the first decade showed few findings
thact could be related to radiation exposure.
Possibly relatec was the
occurrence of about twice the number of miscarriages and stillbirths
in the exposed compared with unexposed Rongelap women.
ft
ence ”was not t seen aft
er 5 years °
-
This diifer-
DOE ARCHIVES
gery
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