SUMMARY
l. "Surveys were made in
1954 to 1958 to
determine the
geographical limits of the radioactive contamination from
the tests in the central Pacific Ocean.
2.
Collections of biological samples and soils were made
at one test site island
3.
(Bikini)
and ten "off-site"
islands.
The gross beta radioactivity decreased with distance
from the test site;
in 1956 and 1958 islands within a 130~
mile radius contained at least ten times as much radioac-
tivity as the other islands.
4.
tion
The levels of radioactivity also were related to direcfrom the
test site.
In
1955
the
islands
' contained high levels of radioactivity.
Tarawa,
distance to the southwest,
amounts of radioactivity.
.
5.
In 1956 and 1958
800 miles southeast of the test site,
low levels whereas Kapingamarangi,
to the east
contained very
approximately the same
contained significantly higher
Department of Energy
Historian’s Office
ARCHIVES
06
,1
5
03
9
b
were the predominant
and Rut03, 106_py,1
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radioisotopes present in the majority of the samples.