UNITED STATES
ATO!AIC ENERGY COMMISSION
WASHINGTON. DG.
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20565
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@ 1¢ ¥489
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Chairman Seaborg
Commissioner Ramey
Commissioner Johnson
Commissioner Costagliola
Commissioner Thompson
" THRU:
General Manager
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
,
CURRENT MEDICAL STATUS OF MARSHALLESE
Dr, Robert Conard of the Medical Department of Brookhaven National
Laboratory, on returning from his annual medical examination of the
Marshallese exposed to fallout following the March 1, 1954, test at
Bikini, has reported the data summarized in the enclosed table.
Retrospective estimates of the internal dose to the thyroids from
absorbed radioiodines edd 600 to 1400 rems to the 175 rad external
dose, Analogous internal doses for the fourteen Marshallese (six
children and eight adults} who happened to be on nearby Ailinginae
Atoll at the time of fallout are not available,
Dysfunction of the thyroid gland continues to eppear in these people
at rates far greater than would éeppear by chance. Dr. Conard will
provide continued medical surveillance of the Marshallese with the
concurrence of the newly appointed High Comaissioner, the Honorable
Edward E., Jounston, and the assistence of the staff of the Trust
Territory and Brookhaven National Laboratory.
4s indicated in the enclosed table, it is plenned that three children
end one edult (plus an interpreter) will go to Brookhaven for evaluetion end possible surgery, probably in August. A public ennouncenrent
concerning the status of the Mershellese may be prepared by Brooknheven
at that time.
John R. Totter, Director
Division of Biology and Medicine
Enclosure:
Data on Medical Survey
Secretariat (2) _
GM (2)
AGMRD
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326 U.S. ATOMIC ENERGY
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