Cancer Institute. Bethesda. Maryland. and is
returned for bumai at Rongelap.
overexposures were found, it was necessary to
evacuate the people in order to prevent unaccept-
A group from the Safety and Environmental
ments.
able increases in their body burden ofthese eie-
Protection Division at BNL carry out radiological
surveys in the Marshall Islands to be coordinated with the medical examinations and personnel monitoring.
Aenairadiological surveys of the Northern
. Marshall Islands completed.
Robert Conard retires, Medical Director of the
Special bills passed by Congress of Micronesia
regarding further compensation to Rongelap and
Utink people, and providing special benefits and
hospitalizauion privileges in case of illness from
any cause.
1981
Twenty houses completed at Bikini and more
peopie returned.
1985
program for 26 years. Hugh Pratt and Eugene
Cronkite temporarily headed the program from
1979-81.
Between 1969-74, 14 Marshallese, one exposed
in utero, had thyroid surgery in the U.S. The
total thus far is 26 people.
Thefirst ship to be used for medical examinations obtained, named Liktanur.
1977 Marshallese nurse end laboratory technician
hired by BNL to support the resident physician
in the islands.
1978
Radiological monitoring of 140 people on Bikini
reveals unexpected increase in absorption of
radioactive elements from the consumption of
freshly grown fruits on the island. Although no
"tL pattie SER TY Le CO ve
IG04213
William Adams assumes directorship of the
Marshall Island Medical Program.
Rongelap people, mistrustful of DOE feports of
the radiological safety of their atoll, are evacu- ated from their island by Greenpeace to an
unsatisfactory island (Mejato) in Kwajalein |
Atoll.
1986 BNL's resident physician program terminated
because of increased U.S. fundingfor general
health care in the Northern Marshall Islands.
1990
The appearance of thyroid tumors has declined
in the past five years. About one-third of the
exposed Rongelap people and a small numberof
Utirik people have developed tumors.
1991
Jean Howard joins Adams in administering the
program.