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The people of Rongelap Atoll wrote a letter, dateC Occober, 1976, about the medical program on their island. The following comments concerning the ' letter were prep zed by the staff of A copy of this letter is attached. Brookhaven National Laboratory and ERDA. The first comment i s with regard to travel of >farshallese patients to the United States. language, it i s indeed necessary t o accompany p z ti ents that come tothe U.S. f6r treatment by Marshallese attendants. Since only very few Americans know t h e >larshallese Unfortunately, on o r about two occasions, this did not occur for various reasons. E v ~ qe f fort will be made in the future to have all patients accompanied by'znglish-spe&ing Marshallese attendants. Also when traveling outside the Tn st Territory, they will be provided with adequate traveling funds. Territory officials will be urged t o arrange necessary 2apers such a s passports well in advance. Whenever the Brookhaven doctors are at Rongelap, t3ey give myone with $ fi sickness the best treatment available under the ci rcm stu ces. As inthe LO past, any disease in an exposed person that appears t o >e czused by radia - tion exposure will be taken tothe U.S. for treatment i f necessary. I n the case that adequate facilities are available locally,patients that require hospitalization will be treated in the Trust Territory hospitals. Dr. Knudsen will assist inthe treatment of the patients at these hospitals. Medicines needed for treatment a t Rongelap that are not available from the Trust Territory Department o f Health Services will,if possible, be provided by ERDA doctors. We are sorry that there have been conflicting reports about the future health of the exposed people of Rongelap. Specifically, we str on z ly disagree with the Japanese newspaper report that is is necessary t o leave Xongelap
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because of the radiation levels on the atoll. There hzvs 52e3 r2ny tests of soil,plants, whater on the island, and measurements of urine and radia - tion in the people living on Rongelap. are low and they are getting less and less. These tests shs;; that the levels The little bit of radiation left on the island would not be expected t o cause any ke zl th effects. We are pleased that Dr. Naidu was able to visit you and eq la in 2bout radia - tion and its effects. from other countries,visit Rongelap in the future to contiilue this educaW e hope t o have other scientists, ' possibly s me .At the time of the fallout in 1954 the radi at i oil dose to the thyroid glands was higher than the dose tothe rest of the body bec2use of selective absorption by the thyroid of radio iodine s inhaled and ingested from contamin a ted fcod and water a t the time of the fallout (see ? able I). The radia - tion dose to the thyroid glands of the Rongelap people vs ses tia a ted to be about 335 rad s for adults and up t o 700-1400 rad s for children. By the time the people re turk d to Rongelap the radio iodine s had virtually d is - appeared so that no further su gni fi cant thyroid exposure 172s possible to anyone living on the island since that time. There has been a false belief among the people that thyroid nodules that develop i n mexposed people living on Rongelap are caused by lingering radiation. The dose from the lingering radiation is too small to produce thyroid effects. Th>Toid nodules occur i n people living throughout the Marshall Islands which are, of course, not due to radiation exposure.
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We are pleased about the remarks made i n your letter about the Brookhaven medical team. ERDA has a great deal of confidence inDrs. Conard a d Knudsen and the other fine doctors that have taken part in t hexed ical pro gra. We are sure they always had your welfare at heart, We are convinced t h a t the medical examinations of the Rongelap people have been very thorough and complete with many tests on the peo2le and on their blood, urine,etc. Some of the most skillful docFors inthe U.S. and from other countries have taken part ' in these examin8tians. They have used the best equipment possible that can be taken to the island. You can be sure that the examination program ensures early diagnosis and tre a he nt of Currently, arrangements are being discussed t o ;)=nita l l the people living on Rongelap, including children,to have an exanination atleast once ayear by the Brookhaven doctors. provide further education for the Health Aides in the diagnosis and treat - ment of radiation effects. We have plans with tie Trust Territory to We realize that at the time of the annual examinations, there is suf - fic i ent disruption of life and that the team should pro7i.de additional food. Therefore a sufficient amount of food will be furnished by the tea during the period of the examination. Members of our staffs have had several discuss ims with Dr. Conard regarding the past and future medical care of the Rongela? people. From these discussions,it has become clear that effective medical care ca on€y be prof iced if the doctors can spend enough time with the people of Rongelap t o talk to them and answer their questions. Dr. Conard end the other doctors are making arrangements to stay on a t Rongelap for as lag as necessary t o make sure that all people get a chance to talk to the=.