American Experience

In June 1983, the United States and the Marshall Islands entered into a formal agreement in which the U.S. recognized the contributions and sacrifices made by the Marshallese as a result of the Nuclear Testing Program. The Marshall Islands Nuclear Claims Tribunal was established in 1988 to grant compensation for personal injury deemed to have been caused by the testing.

As of December 31, 1997 $63,127,000 had been awarded to or on behalf of 1,549 people.

1. Leukemia (other than chronic lymphocytic leukemia).....$125,000
2. Cancer of the thyroid
a. if recurrent or requires multiple surgical and/or ablation............................................$75,000
b. if non-recurrent or does not require multiple treatment...........................................$50,000
3. Cancer of the breast
a. if recurrent or requires mastectomy................$100,000
b. if not recurrent or requires lumpectomy............ $75,000
4. Cancer of the pharynx.................................$100,000
5. Cancer of the esophagus...............................$125,000
6. Cancer of the stomach.................................$125,000
7. Cancer of the small intestine.........................$125,000
8. Cancer of the pancreas................................$125,000
9. Multiple myeloma......................................$125,000
10. Lymphomas (except Hodgkins's disease).................$100,000
11. Cancer of the bile ducts..............................$125,000
12. Cancer of the gall bladder............................$125,000
13. Cancer of the liver (except cirrhosis or hepatitis B is indicated).......................................$125,000
14. Cancer of the colon....................................$75,000
15. Cancer of the urinary bladder..........................$75,000
16. Tumors of the salivary gland
a. if malignant........................................$50,000
b. if benign and requiring surgery.....................$37,500
c. if benign and not requiring surgery.................$12,500
17. Non-malignant thyroid nodular disease (unless limited to occult nodules)
a.if requiring total thyroidectomy.....................$50,000
b.if requiring partial thyroidectomy...................$37,500
c.if not requiring thyroidectomy.......................$12,500
18.Cancer of the ovary....................................$125,000
19.Unexplained hypothyroidism (unless thyroiditis indicated
.......................................................$37,500
20.Severe growth retardation due to thyroid damage........$100,000
21.Unexplained bone marrow failure........................$125,000
22.Meningioma.............................................$100,000
23. Radiation sickness diagnosed between June 30, 1946 and August 18, 1958, inclusive.....................$12,500
24. Beta burns diagnosed between June 20, 1946 and August 18, 1958, inclusive..........................$12,500
25.Severe mental retardation (provided born between May and September 1954, inclusive,and mother was present on Rongelap or Utirik Atolls at any time in March 1954)..........$100,000
26.Unexplained hyperparathyroidism.........................$12,500
27. Tumors of the parathyroid gland
a. ifmalignant.........................................$50,000
b.if benign and requiring surgery......................$37,500
c.if benign and not requiring surgery..................$12,500
28. Bronchial cancer (including cancer of the lung and pulmonarysystem)...................................$37,500
29.Cancer of the brain....................................$125,000
30.Cancer of the central nervous system...................$125,000
31.Cancer of the kidney....................................$75,000
32.Cancer of the rectum....................................$75,000
33.Cancer of the cecum.....................................$75,000
34. Non-melanoma skin cancer in individuals who were diagnosed as having suffered beta burns under number 24 above..................................$37,000