because of the radiation levels on the atoll.
There have beea many tests
of soil, plants, whater on the island, and measurements of urine and radiation in the people living on Rongelap.
These tests show thet the levels
are low and they are getting less and less.
The little bit of radiation
left on the island would not be expected to cause any health effects.
We
are pleased that Dr. Naidu was able to visit you and explain about radia-~
tion and its effects,
We hope to have other scientists,
possibly some
from other countries, visit Rongelap in the future to continue this educational program,
.At the time of the fallout in 1954 the radiation dose to the thyroid
glands was higher than-the dose to the rest of the body because of selective
absorption by the thyroid of radioiodines inhaled and ingested from contaninated food and water at the time of the fallout (see Teble I).
The radia-
tion dose to the thyroid glands of the Rongelap people was estimated to be
about 335 rads for adults and up to 700-1400 rads for cnildren.
By the
time the people returned to Rongelap the radioiodines had virtually disappeared so that no further sugnificant thyroid exposure wes possible to
anyone living on the island since that time.
There has been a false belief
among the people that thyroid nodules that develop in tmexvosed people living
on Rongelap are caused by lingering radiation.
The dose from the lingering
radiation is too small to produce thyroid effects,
Thyroid nodules occur
in people living throughout the Marshall Islends which are, of course, not
due to radiation cxposure,
1954 FALLOUT DOSE (RADS)~
Utirik
(a) Whole Body
14.
(b) Thyroid Adult
Children
aTET:
7
.
Rongelas
30
30 - 95
peRT
DRAFT
175
335
335
1400