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Declassified record · U.S. Department of Energy

Letter to C L Dunham, Subject: Plans and Requirement Submitted for the Proposed Four-Year Post Exposure Medical Survey of the Marshallese, Beginning About 1 March 1958

Dated
Aug 8, 1957
Document type
Correspondence
Length
3 pages
Open the original scanArchive record OSTI ID 16377729 · public domain

Document text

Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.

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Division of Biology and Medicine ~ , Atomic Energy Commission The following plans and requirements are submitted for the proposed four. year post exposure medical survey of the Marshallese, beginning about 1 March * 1958. The anticipated time of schedule of medical examinations is as follows. About three weeks will be spent at Rongelap where the exposed and unexposed 2& L comparison populations will be examined. About two hundred people are involved. During this period, complete histories and physical examinations will be done and laboratory examinations including three complete blood studies similar to those carried out last year. In addition, a supplementary proposal (my letter of July 26, 1957) to carry out vhole-body gzumua spectroscopy has been sulxnitted. Upon return to Kwajalein about 21 March, it is deemed advisable that three w+ to four members of the team proceed to Majuro to carry out growth -and development studies on about 20 Rita Village children (in conjunction uith such studies on the Rongelap children). l%ese children have been followed since the August 1954 examinations. l%ese examinations would take about two to three days. Prior to the survey, a few key personnel will be required at Pearl Harbor to install the electrical units for the whole-body counting in the steel chamber on In order to carry out the survey, the following schedules are submitted: Schedule A (attached) lists the personnel requirements. me team is outlined according to the various institutions involved. ‘l’heCommanding Officers of N.M.R.I. and N.R.D.L., as well as the DISTAD, Majuro, have given unofficial approval to participation of their personnel. Copies of these letters are attached. Dr. Farr has approved participation of B.N.L. personnel listed. Col. Lowery has expressed his consent to participate, but unofficial Army approval has not been obtained. ‘I%elist of civilian personnel is somewhat tentative at this time, but is believed to be fairly firm. Schedule B outling the cost estimates is being forwarded separately as a formal B-N-L. budget proposal and will include the suppl~entary budget proposal for the whole-body counter. It is recommended that B.N.L. handle the entire allotment this year as explained in the scheduleO The purchase of the X-ray machine listed in the schedule is considered essential in order to carry out the continuing growth and development studies, as well as for diagnostic purposes in conjunction

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with the clinical examinations. This field-type machine is made for the Armed Services and is made of resistant metal plate or stainless steel, and the wiring system is treated against fungus. The Military Medical Procurement Agency, Brooklyn, N. Y. makes a special tropical packing for this X-ray machine which should allow us to pack it up and leave it at Rongelap between surveys. We can procure this machine with accessories crom the Armed Services at the same cost as to the military institutions. It is understood that a So-Kw, generator will be available at Rongelap (at the Rad Safe building). The X-ray machine uses about 10 KU. As with previous surveys, assistance from the Navy is mandatory in order to carry out the mission. ‘Ibis assistance is listed below. ‘Ihemost essential requirement is the use of an LST. The reasons are similar to those with last year’s U.tirik examinations. Transpost the medical temn, about 4000 lbs. of medical equipment and the whole-body counting fatility (if approved) to Rongelap Facilities to provide messing and berthing of the medical team (about 18 people) for the three weeks during the Rongelap examIf facilities ashore at Rongelap are inadequate, it may be necessary to establish a hematological laboratory aboard the LST as was done with last year’s Utirik trip. Use of a shower room on the LST vmuld be necessary to establish a decontamination-change station in conjunction with the whole-body Availability. It is requested that the LST be made available (at least on a part-time basis) at Pearl Harbor beginning about 1 February 1958 in order that the steel chamber can be put aboard and the electrical units installed and checked by members of the A.E.C. medical team before departure. Also prior to departure for Kwajalein, the medical equipment for the survey could be placed aboard. The medical team would be picked up at Kwajalein and the LST w uld be in the Marshall Islands about three weeks. Participation in the operation by all naval personnel, both service and civilian included in Schedule .4. It is requested, if agreeable with COMHAWSEAFWON, that Lt. James P. Nolan (MC) USNR again be appointed as the liason officer for that activity since he is familar with the detains of the mission. Transportation via MATS of all personnel named in Schedule A. Transportation via MATS of medical equipent from San Francisco to Hawaii and return. Approximate space required, 150 cubic feet. Approximate Assignment of Class 2 prioiity for all MATS transportation required.

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6. Air transportation between Kawjalein and Majuro, Marshall Islands, to transfer three Marshallese interpreters and several members of the medical team to ,Majuro and return. 7. Authorization to all naval commands en route to provide assistance to the medical team as required. ‘l%ere are certain requirements dependent on Trust Territory assistance (Department of Interior). 1. Use of one medical practitioner and tvn interpreters for a period of three weeks to accompany the team to Rongelap. 7.< , Use of limited hospital facilities at Majuro to examine about 20 children over a period of 2 to 3 days. 3. Messing and housing of 3 to 4 members of the medical team for a period of about 3 to 4 days at Majuro beginning around 22 March 1958. Approval of these requests has been obtained from DISTAD, klajuro. Certain other approval is necessary. USA, Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Present plans include handling of per diem and travel expenses of Col. Lowery by B.N.L. sub-allotment to If further information or clarification of these plans is needed, please let me know. As you know, early planning at this time is necessary in order to get