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Publication Laka-library:
Review of medical findings in a Marshallese population twenty-six years after accidental exposure to radioactive fallout (1980)

Author	Conard, Paglia, Larsen, Brookhaven National Lab
Date	1980
Classification	4.26.4.00/13 (PACIFIC - US TESTING AREA)
Front

PREFACE

A 20-year report published 6 years ago (1) covered in detail the medical findings in 
the Marshallese exposed to radioactive fallout in 1954. The present report updates 
these findings with emphasis on the data collected during the past 6 years. *
Much of the material presented in the 20-year report will not be repeated. The 
reader is referred to that report for a review of topics such as the general history of 
the Marshall Islands, past health status of the Marshallese people, use of the islands 
from 1946 to 1958 as the Pacific proving grounds for testing nuclear devices, the 
accidental exposure in 1954 of the people of Rongelap and Utirik Atolls, their 
evacuation and subsequent return to their homes, organization of the medical teams 
and surveys, relationship with the Navy and Trust Territory (TT) governing bodies, 
etc. The findings previously reported in detail will only be summarized in this 
report.The Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) Medical Program has been 
limited by its mandate: to observe the people who had been exposed to fallout 
radiation on Rongelap, Ailingnae, and Utirik Atolls in 1954 and unexposed 
comparison populations, and to ascertain those diseases in the exposed population 
that are related to prior exposure to radiation and initiate appropriate treatment 
for these diseases. However, a number of developments have resulted in expansion of 
the program. Further thyroid abnormalities developed in the exposed Rongelap 
people and in several exposed Utirik people. An exposed Rongelap male died of 
leukemia in 1972. The exposed Rongelap and Ailingnae people who had been 
placed on thyroid hormone treatment were not adhering strictly to the treatment 
program; as a result many of those who had had thyroid surgery showed evidence 
of reduced thyroid function, giving rise to concern that they might develop clinical 
hypothyroidism unless they complied with the treatment. Another important 
consideration was the urgent request of the unexposed people living on Rongelap 
and Utirik (not in the group regularly examined) to be given annual checkups by 
the BNL medical team. For the above reasons a number of steps have been taken 
to expand the program. A physician from BNL was stationed in the Marshall Islands 
in 1972 as resident physician. His principal responsibilities included (a) monitoring 
the thyroid treatment program, (b) visiting Rongelap, Utirik, and Bikini Atolls for 
health care purposes every 3 to 4 months, and (c) assisting the TT medical services 
with the care of Rongelap and Utirik patients at the hospitals at Ebeye and Majuro.
A Marshallese nurse was hired by BNL in 1977 and has been of great assistance to 
the resident physician. In 1978 a clinical laboratory was established in a trailer at 
the Ebeye Hospital as a supplement to the hospital laboratory to aid the resident 
physician in making definitive diagnoses. A medical technician from BNL has
been stationed in the islands since 1978.

* The thyroid section (IX) includes more recent data which became available just
before publication of this report.

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