Rongelap Reassessment Project Report (Corrected Edition)

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TO: The Presidentand Congress of the United States Pursuant to the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985, Public Lrw 99-239, January 14, 1986 (99 Stat. 1783-84) rad rdministcrtd by the 1203 Shrttuck LO., Berkeley, CA 94709 *This reissueof 25 May 90 containsmaterialrelatingto the

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This edition of the Report, which replaces that of July 22, 1988, has been corrected for typographical errors. In addition, for purporer of clarification, a paragraph has been added to each of pager 2, 3, 7, 23, 24, 62, 63 and 83; I sentence or phrase on pages 5, 15, 17, 27, 28, 33, 38, 40, 41, 44, 47, 65, 76, 77, 78, 79 and 92. These changes are in brackets to identify them. None of these changes modifies the intent or meaning of the original In the Congressional Record of 31 Ott 88, p. E-3712, 8 resolution includes the statetent that subsequent to the Reassessment Report’s issuance (22 July 881, I have significantly changed my conclusions and I have not done so, as this edition of the Report will show. I hope that the minor changes and corrections I have made will clarify the text at certain points so that it will not be misinterpreted. The main message of the Report can be had quickly by reading the Abstract [Page 31 followed by Pages 42-44~ and supplemented by Note 16. The Note has been added to this reissue to cover material relating to the Congressional Hearings of 16 Nov 89 before the House Subcommittee on Insular G International Affairs (Committee on Interior & Insular on Interior E Related Agencies (Appropriations Committee), chaired by

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The task has been to determine whether or not DOE’s 1982 Report proved that Rongelap Island is safe for habitation. The island was contaminated in 1954 during the testing of nuclear weapons. It should be borne in mind that the dosage under discussion is current dosage, e.g., from 1990 to 2020, and not that from exposure in 1954. The current [population]*’ dosage over a 30-year period is a matter of 3 rem [or less], whereas [that of 19541 was one of 190 rem in 2 days. The evidence used by DOE plus additional and more recent information have been reviewed. Rongelap Island is safe for habitation by adults provided that the diet is equivalent to that formerly used. I do not believe that such a diet would present any difficulty. [It comprises local plus imported Measurement of plutonium excretion in the urine of Rongelap residents (1981) [by the Brookhaven National Laboratory] shows very great variation, [and it is quite inconsistent with studies by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]. The matter is a potential cause of concern and should be studied [now] although it is not associated with The dose to infants and small children is another potential cause of concern. Preliminary findings from a diet survey indicate, however, that the dosage is not excessive. This study should be continued. The whole-body counting for cesium should be resumed to establish a base line for later work at the time of resettlement. In the course of planning for [Atoll] resettlement, the fact that Rongelap Island appears safe for resettlement now should not be lost Planning for resettlement [of the Atoll] should consider the possible use of potassium-salt treatment of the roil and soil removal as studied at Bikini. To obtain a brief summary of the key facts of dosage rod the more general, but important human factors that will affect decision-making, the reader is referred to Sectif6n 4.5 (Dare Summary) and to Section 5 [The standards of rafety in this Report -- as is to be expected -- are those employed currently in the U.S., where the radiation protection guide for the general population is 5 rem in 30 years (.17 rem/yr), whole body exposure (technically, the committed effective dose equivalent). The protective action guide is 0.2 redyr to the bone marrow (committed dose equivalent). These matters are discussed in Note 5.) *Bracketed material has been added to this edition for clarification or

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TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS 2.2 Return to Rongelap -- 1957 4.2 Internal Dose: Lawrence Livermore 4.3 Internal Dose: Brookhaven

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1. Quote from “The Heaaing of Radiation for Those Atolls in the Northern Part of the Harshall Islands that were Surveyed in 1978”. U.S. Dept. of Energy, 2. Quote from Compact of Free Aspciation Act of 1985, Public Law 99-239, Jan. 14, 1986 52 3. Comments relating to the timing of the evacuation of the Rongelap people 54 4. Rission of the medical program at Rongelap ’ 55 5. Safety recommendations and guides 62 6. Explanation of terms "exposure*' and “dose” 63 7. External gamma-ray and beta-ray exposures 64 9. Check on accuracy of analyses 68 11. Brookhaven Results, cesium-137 and strontium-90 73 15. Letter from Senator Anjain, June 27, 1988 83

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Rongelap Atoll was contaminated with radioactive fallout in 1954 as a result of the Bravo thermonuclear test-shot at Bikini, 130 miles away. In 1978, to inform the people of the Northern Marshall Islands of the extent of residual contamination 24 years later, and of its potential effects upon their health, DOE (Department of Energy) surveyed the region and subsequently issued a specially prepared book report in Xarshallese. The book was entitled, The Meaning of Radiation for Those Atolls in Northern Part of the Marshall Islands that were Surveyed in 1978, was published in 1982. We shall refer to it as DOE-1982.1 The first part dealt in general with radiation and fallout, and how they might affect plants, animals and man. The situation at Rongelap was dealt with specifically on pages 38 - 39. (Note 1) DOE’s assessment of Rongelap Island was not accepted by the Rongelap people, so much so that in 1985 the residents abandoned their boxes and moved to Uajieto in Kwajalein Atoll. The U. S. Congress, therefore, provided for an independent assessment of DOE’s conclusions for Rongelap Island, in the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985 (U.S. Public Law 99-239, section 103(i); see Note 2). The functions of the present report are therefore as follows: “[The referee shall] review the data collected by the Department of Energy relating to the radiation levels and other conditions on Rongelap Island resulting from the thermonuclear test...The purpose... shall be to establish whether the data cited in support of the conclusions as to habitability of Rongelap Island as set forth in the [book] ...are adequate and whether such conclusions are supported by the data....If...the data are inadequate to support... habitabilty... the government of the Marshall islands shall It should be noted that the law is quite specific in referring to Rongelap Island, not Atollk and accordingly this Report concentrates on that Island, the chief residence of the Rongelap people. Bowever, data and coxmeatslon other islands of the Atoll are included. [The standards of safety in this Report -- as is to be expected -- are those employed currently in the U. S., where the radiation protection guide for the general population is 5 rem in 30 years (.17 rem/yr), whole body exposure (technically, the committed effective dose equivalent). The protective action guide is 0.2 rem/yr to the bone marrow (committed dose equivalent). These matters are discussed in Note 5.1

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The sections of DOE-1982 that deal with Rongelap and are now under review were discussed with DOE-1982’s senior author, Dr. William Bair (Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Richland, YA 993521, and Dr. Bait has read, especially, the parts of the Report referring to them. It rhould be noted that DOE-1982 is a statement by DOEand is always referred to as such in this Report. Dr. William Robison (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore CA 945501, who supplied the field data and the dose calculations for DOE-1982, has provided additional data for the present report, and has discussed his findings with me. Relevant Rongelap studies that were supported by DOEat Brookhaven National Laboratory (Upton, New York 119731, were discussed with Dr. William Ii. Adams, Medical Department), Dr. Robert Conard [Medical It was considered important and efficient to bring together all of the data that are now available rather than to restrict this report to the limited data on which DOE-1982 was based. with the concurrence of the Karshallese Government, therefore, additional information from DOE-supported laboratories, that became available after DOE-1982 had been written, was made available to us by Adams, Lessard and Robison. Also, we have taken a number of samples in the field and have had them analyzed independently, in accordance with the wishes of the Rongelap people. Other sources of information in the international literature have been used and are cited in the text. We have also discussed from time to time various matters relating to the Report, or the progress made in developing it, with Rongelap Senator Jeton Anjain, P.O. Box 1006, Hajuro, Republic of the Xarshall Islands, The task has been greatly facilitated by llr. Peter Oliver, Special Assistant for Compact Affairs, Republic of the Xarshall Islands, P.O. Box The Reassessment Report (the present document) was written by Henry I. Kohn in his capacity as Referee under contract with RepKar. The opinions and statements made are therefore his responsibility. The task, however, was greatly facilitated by discussions with members of an international panel of consultants, selected to represent a variety of overlapping specialties that would cover the problems under examination. Owing to time constraints, none of the consultants has read the final version of this Report. All have read the Preliminary Report (April 20, 1988), and I have discussed various parts of the present document with various consultants by correspondence and especially by telephone.

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The following scientists participated in the Project. Emeritus of Radiation Biology. Harvard Bedical School: Chairman, Bikini Atoll Rehabilitation%mmittee; 1203 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley Secretary: Irene K. Heller, Berkeley, CA Radiology, Harvard Bedical School: Director of Joint Program in Nuclear Medicine at Beth Israel Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Children’s liospital and Institute, and Dana Farber Cancer Center: Vice-President, National Commission on Radiological Protection and Xeasurements; 25 Shattuck St., Boston, BA 02115 National Radiological Protection Board (United Kingdom), Member, International Commission on Radiological Protection: Residence: 52 Vice President, Technical Applications, The BOBCorp. 7915 Jones Branch Drive, IfcLean VA 22102 (703-848-7294) Risk Analysis Section, GSF Institut fur Strahlenschutz (Institute for Radiation Protection), IngolstAdter Landstrasse 1, D-8042, Neuherberg 2225 Federal Republic of Germany GE-055 Hydrology and Chairman, Dept. of Geology and Geophysics, University of Hawaii, Bonolulu, HI 96822 (808-948-7897) Director of Center for Demographic and Population Genetics and Professor of Human Genetics, Univ. of Texas Eealth Science Center at Houston; Formerly Director of the Radiation Research Foundation at

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Forest Soils, Cornell University: Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Soil Science, 2169 XcCarty Hall, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL International Perspectives in Public Health; Commissioner, International Commission of Health P&ofessionals, Geneva: President, International Institute of Concern for Public Health, 830 Bathurst St., Toronto, Ontario RSR-3Gl Canada UTE BOIKAT,H.Sc.,Ph.D. (radioecology), Executive of the Department of Public Health, Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg, Tesdorpfstr.8, D-2000 Hamburg 13, Federal Republic of Germany. ((Oil-49)40-44195334). Dr. Boikat has been a member of the consulting firm of Kollert, Donderer and Boikat of Bremen which assisted in some of the analytical work. Office), Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, * The “Institute” is a private consulting office.

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Rongelap Atoll is located about 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii, at islets, total area 3.07 sq. miles, which bound a lagoon of 400 sq. miles. The largest and by far the most important island, Rongelap, has an area The geological structure is that of a coral reef atoll resting on a submerged volcanic mass. The islands are made of reef debris, primarily of sand and gravel size, and reef organisms. The atoll is typical in appearance, and the islands are covered with vegetation. However, a major factor limiting the kinds of plants that can be grown as staples is the long dry season. The harshall Islands Statistical Abstract of 1986, issued by the Republic, lists the population of the atoll as totalling 235. Previously, it was 165 in 1973, 189 in 1967, 264 in 1958. In 1954 at the time of the Bravo incident, 84 persons were evacuated. (These fluctuations reflect the need to work elsewhere.) Earlier records for Japanese and German periods of control are: 99 in 1945, 98 in 1935, 110 in 1920, 100 in 1906, 120 in 1860. However, Hr. Peter Oliver, the Republic’s Special Assistant for Compact Affairs, has informed me that the Rongelap Distribution Authority now makes per capita payments from its Nuclear Claims Fund to 1,578 individuals. Currently, these amount to $1480 per year to those exposed to fallout in 1954, and $480 to others. The Council has also determined that 2,277 individuals qualify for the benefits of the Section 177 Health Care Program as a result of their ties to Rongelap. The initial event occurred on Xarch 1, 1954, when a 170megaton-yield thermonuclear device was set off at Bikini Atoll, the Bravo test. The device was 1000 tines as powerful as the bombs that destroyed Nagasaki and Hiroshima: its cloud rose 25 miles above the earth, and after 10 minutes had a diameter of 10 miles. It had been planned that the “cloud” would be blown to the west and north Wig. 2.1 II). Unexpectedly for whatever reason (Note 31, it was blown to the east so that at&about 5 hourr after detonation fallout began at Rongelap Atoll, and during the ensuing 7 hours fell in ruch quantities as to suggest to Rongelapese, who had never seen snow, that it was snowing (Sharp & Chapman, 1957). Rather than avoiding contact, children played in the powdery, finely granular fallout, and no particular effort was made to separate it from food or clothing. No warning was or had been issued by the military.

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Fig. 2.1 Location of the MARSHALL ISLANDS Continental Air Nicronesia Route Kap, Actual flight path

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About 50 hours after the “shot”, the Navy removed the 64 Rongelap residents from the Atoll to the medical base at Kwajalein (Sharp C Chapman, 1957; Cronkite et al, 1956) Also, eighteen visiting Rongelapese were removed from Sifo Island, Ailinginae Atoll, and 157 Utirik people from Utirik Atoll. It was immediately recognized that the surveillance and care of these people required far more professional staff than the base could supply, and a special medical team hurriedly organized for this purpose in the United States, utilizing naval and AEC personnel, reached the base 8 days after the detonation. Consistent with a whole-body dose of 190 rem (over two days), two-thirds of the Rongelap group experienced nausea, 108 with vomiting and diarrhea, which cleared within three days or so, and all showed depressed white-blood-cell counts (Cronkite et al, 1956). As a result of the skin dose from physical contact with fallout, about 708 developed skin lesions of widely varying reverity after a latency period of two to three weeks. Most of these were to heal successfully but a few developed significant scarring. There were no deaths within 60 days of exposure. The most “significant” part of the initial exposure produced no immediate …