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Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.
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ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION NEVADA OPERATIONS OFFICE LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89114 Walter H. Weyzen, Deputy Manager Physic a1 and Technological Programs Division of Biomedical and Environmental Although I expect that the response to the People of Utirik has-'b.een a t least in part overtaken by events, Iam enclosing are - draft "line-in line-out" version. Underlined a r e the words I suggest for those deleted. I think the suggested changes a r e self-explanatory. I would like to suggest a l s o that certain of the questions raised in the letter from the People of Utirik are not specifically responded to in this draft, to wit: #4. The perceived difference in treatment of the two populations is not directly addressed. More than the control population seems to be at issue. Is the difference real ? # 6 . The diabetes question is not addressed. # 7 . a) We have conducted some field studies at Utirik and m o r e are planned. b) Some of the information from Enewetak would be helpful here. District Agriculturist (or some of our own people) to look a t the arrowroot problem. both irrigation problems and the need to improve the soil. Also, we should t r y to get the We will more than likely find After talking with Bob Conard last week and having had further information regarding the situation Dr. Knudsen found at Utirik, I am even m o r e strongly influenced in the direction of a face-to-face meeting with
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the people a s soon as we can arrange it. we must answer their letter in detail, i f only because i t has been ance will require that we go to them with patience, understanding and a willingness to see things from their point of view. F o r the record, of course, But toRally get to them with information and re assur - Markup of Utirik Draft
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To the Chiefs and A l l People in Utirik Atoll Your letter to Mr. Roger Ray, dated July 1976, has been received by this office. We wish to thank you for sending this letter and bringing your views to o u r attention. We have carefully considered your views, as presented i n your letter, and we appreciate the opportunity to answer your thoughtful questions. Even today, there a r e many facts about radiation that a r e not known, despite the large number of scientists that have studied this subject for &hepa&-Z@-- more than 30 years. Even less was known about radiation in 1954 a t the time of the exposure of the people on Rongelap and using &he their best judgment, the American doctors dekelrmiaed estimated that the people of Utirik w e r e exposed eaky to only a small amount of radiation. Hence, t h e r e was general agreement among the doctors that the Utirik people would not, in the future, show any d%scs+4e4ill effects &hei+--expesarej the relatively low levels of radiation soon disappeared from Utirik, the Utirik people were returned to &i+,-&la& their island before some of the other populations. Rongelap, however, was more heavily contaminated with radioactivity s o the people of this island had to Based on all available knowledge on radiation at that time, and
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live elsewhere for about three years before they could return to their In reviewing the data that indicates that the Utirik people w e r e exposed to considerably l e s s radiation than the people of Rongelap, one must conclude that the dose estimates ape made at the time were essentially correct r, with the exception of the dose to the childre2s thyroids which I shall address later. estimates from measurements on the island. the Utirik people showed only v e r y minor, if any, symptoms of early disease This conclusion is based not only on the actual dose Even more important i s that from exposure, indicating that the exposure must have been considerably less than was seen on Rongelap island. Following the return to the island, it was decided that regular medical examinations of the exposed people of Utirik w e r e to be done. Such examinations w e r e conducted at regular intervals w-e-r+eeadtlek& to a s s u r e that they had not been harmed. Examinations were done in 1957, 1959, 1963, 1969, 1972 and 1975. In addition to complete physical examinations, thyroid examinations and sick' calls were held every year. A-lsei- In recent y e a r s kheps havebeen United States doctors vir4i-ts-have visited Utirik every three months. the people who had been exposed to radiation, the doctors selected a
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exposed and non-exposed people. unexposed people from Rongelap. f o r comparison with the exposed people of both Rongelap and Utirik. slight genetic difference between the two populations was not considered a sufficient reason to select a separate control group for Utirik. This- The control group consists of This group is considered quite adequate One of your questions concerned the fact that the children of the exposed islanders who w e r e not themselves exposed have not been included in the regular examination list. This - was - d ~ n e4x.caa-s-e Large groups of Since none of these studies /exposed parents have been studied elsewhere. revealed any ilkitiaekg-en-e-ti-c ef€eets-,-radiation-causedillness o r defects, it was felt that such a study of the unexposed children on Utirik was not necessary. Of course, children are examined and treated a s needed a t sick calls whenever the doctors visit Utirik. A s stated earlier in this letter, many facts about radiation were not known back in 1954 but the best available medical judgment was used in decisions affecting the people of Utirik. now, with the knowledge we have today, it appears that the doctors a t that time w e r e not aware of the degree of exposure of the thyroid due to fallout. This was especially t r u e of the children because their thyroid is much Studying the same problems +It- is not surprising that with the information then available
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thyroid disease was not expected in the Utirik people. important is that only v e r y recently has information become available from several sources that the thyroid gland, especially in children, is radiationeffects than was anticipated in the past. together, we can now, many y e a r s later, explain the incidence of malignant thyroid glands in the Utirik people. P t this time i-t-k+impc+ssible we a r e not able to predict whether more cases are to be expected in the exposed members of khis-the Utirik population. importance that the regular medical examinations be continued in the future. By having regular medical exmainations, signs of thyroid disease can be detected e a r l y and prompt treatment will avoid unnecessary suffering on the p a r t of the Utirik people. Taking these factors It is, therefore, of the greatest For these reasons, I believe i t i.s of great importance that the Ch<efs leaders of the people of Utirik explain to their people the s&gr&i-ea-m+e purpose and the importance of the regular medical examinations. Conducting the medical exmainations and treating people of the islands whenever necessary has been largely in the hands of Drs. Conard, Knudsen and during the past y e a r , Dr. Kotrady. On many occasions, -the-best expert medical advice was invited f r o m outstanding specialists in the field, many of whom participated in the actual medical exmainations. We believe
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Drs. Conard, Knudsen and Kotrady to be very capable and conscientious .doctors who a r e deeply commited to the health and welfare of the people of Utirik. Moreover, the report by the a e c i a l Committee onRongelap and Utirik, which was formed b y the Congress of Micronesia, was generally favorable with regard to the exa#minations. In view of the above, we were greatly surprised to learn about the apparent displeasure on the part of the people of Utirik a s expressed in your letter and more recently i n the request that D r . Knudsen leave your island. One possible explanation forthis difference in sentiment with regards to D r s . Conard understand-ing a s to their role and reasons to come to the islands. I would like to repeat that it is m y firm conviction that the principal concern of D r s . Conard and Knudsen is the welfare and well-being of &h.e-Utiri.kpxqde. understanding eeaM.sasi4y; may result because of the difference ia between -our languages. Again, I would appeal -the-Gh&effj-e€Gti~jck to your leadership and your teachers to impress upon-theGPpeqAe those who had the misfortune to be exposed to radiation the importance of the medical examinations and the necessity to t r u s t and cooperate with the American doctors. Onty then can we be assured that theyvillcontinue to receive the best medical care and treatment that we a r e able to provide.- ~ -