1.1 Naeure of the Event and Description of the Exposed Groups
Fiasewine Tee Derosiries of a nuclear cde-
ax duties woukd permit, they remarned inside of
of 1934, ~agmnifieant amounts of radteactive ma
Marshallee remained cut of clos and thin
vive at the Pacitie Proving grand in the Snes
teral fell on neighboring populated atelk.
atesgppemosers beter bree.
tombe
*
eeowm
we
6vpg
«8
8 ree
were more heavily contaniunated by the ma
terial falling on the atallx, Same of the
Marshallese, however, went seimming sturing
the fallout and many of the children adel in
the water. thas washing a considerable amwunt
The Marshallese inhabitants of Rongelap atoll
(desigmated as Croup Pp received the highest
calculated daw of radiation. Some of the
Rongelap people were lorated temporanly on
Ailinginae atoll from the time of the fallout
of the material from their skin.
calculated dose was smaller than that of the
Kwajalein by air and surface transportation.
until they were evacuated (Crroup ID). Their
other members of the parent group.
The
American service men (Group ELT) were located on Rongerik atoll. The largest group of
Marshallese (Giroup IV) were Jocated on Utirik
atoll and received the smallest dose. The Marshalleve were living under relatively primitive
conditions in lightly constructed palm houses
(Fig. 1.1).
The American military personnel had the
second highest exposure.
They were more
aware of the significance of the fallout than
were the Marshallese, and promptly put on additional clothing to protect their skin. As far
The exposed personnel were evacuated to
Since a survey of all individuals showed that
there was significant contamination of skin, hair
and clothes, prompt decontamination was instituted. Clothes were removed and Jaumdered
aml repeated washings of the skin and hair
with fresh water and soap were carned out. In
manyof the Marshallexe, it was diffcult to wash
the radioactive material from the hair because
of the heavy coconut-oil hair dressing.
The exposure groups with individuals in-
volved, the calculated donen of radiation, the
probable times of beginning of the fatiout and
the evacuation times are given in Table 1.1.
-
Table !.1—Exposed, and Control Usexposed Groups
hore
mn
Qaave
D
Toma ADpOTTE
sidney SemanaoF
meee
N
45)
4
Group T — Rongelap
Ho
+
4tof
2
hrs.
H + 4to6
hrs.
H + 68he.
Group [V.— Utirik
157
H + 22he
Marshallese, Control
(Group A
Americans, Control Kwa
jalein- American
w7
18
firoup [I — Ailinginae
Group IIT — Rongenk
Total Rapowed
267)
105
Total Controls
222
Ties of Evactanwox<
Ho + Shree [K peoples
H - Sthrm 4% people)
H - 5 hes.
txevarwant Reames
Csep is Dowe t aurt.
Lathise
375 mrum.H + 7
days
100 mr br. H + 9
Rest Fert
UR
(hemes
Tease 1s
AM (fi
ITS
64
(fave
H+ She (8 men)
H + 34 bre. (20 men)
Started at Ho + 55 he.
Completed at H - 7Rhra
2) mr hres. H + 9
days
“ mrhbre.. HA
dav«
78
la