CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
As @ result of a mucleardetonation in Operation CASTLE, several

atolls in the Marshall Islends were conteminated by radioactive fall-out
to such an extent that evacuation of the inhabitants was necessary. Plants,
anitcls, water and soil vere collected froa the islanis one month after the

fell-out occurred.

The liva anirals vere sent to the USKRDL end redfochemical

enslycis wag made of thelr tissues to provide informtion on the internal

reJintion hazard. A report()) of this study hes been published.
As a follow-up to the original study a resurvey of the contaminated

Rarshall Ialands wag undertaken.

Radtochenical anilysis of food plants, fish,

water, soil, coral, algee and birds indicate the natura and extent of the

interval radiation hazard ercated by tha residual contamination on the islands.
Buch data vere necessary to determine the possibility of the re-occupancy of
the contaninated islands. A germs dose rate survey vas conducted to determing
the external rediation hazard.

The present report presents the data obe

teined froa the resurvey of ths contazinated islands one year after Cp2ration
CASTLE.
1.1

Objectives

ile Atoll Resurvey Project wes entitled "Follow-up Determination of

the [xtezt of the Distribution of Fall-out Contacination on Ronzelap end
Other Atolls in the Marshall Group." Its specific objectives weres

(1)

Go provide data upon which a dacision can be based es to whether

and wien the evacuated eT hao eefely re-occupied by their forser
Le

Stuty of the rote) Bee ive Contacrinaticn of Ruzmain Beings and Anirols

ord Coatexination of the Environ-ent Resulting from Fall-out in Operatioa

CASTL3 Addendica report, Project 4.1 Ogzration CASILE WT-935.
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