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
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5
03
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were the predominant
and Rut03, 106_py,1
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radioisotopes present in the majority of the samples.

Select target paragraph3