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(Reprinted from Nature, Vol. 223, No. 5209, pp. 925-928, August 30 1969) /
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External Radiation on Bikini Atoll
by
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BURTON G. BENNETT
Wide variations in external exposure rates and a large number of
Health and Safety Laboratory,
US Atomic Ener, Commission,
New York, NY
l4
on Bikini Atoll.
radionuclides were found contributing to the residual radiationfields
HAROLD L. BECK
”
#
A suRvey of the iglands of Bikini Atoll has revealed
exposure rates on each island of the atoll. We were able
radiation in an area of heavy local fallout several years
which have not been detectable in previously surveyed
several interesting features of the residual environmental
after the initial deposition. Bikini Atoll is the former
weapons test area in the mid-Pacific where more than
twenty nuclear tests were conducted between 1946 and
1958. Our survey in May 1967 included measurements
of the external radiation levels and determiiation of the
principal isotopes contributing to the total external
to detect many long-lived fission and activation products
fallout areas. The pattern of the residual radiation on the
atoll can be related to the locations of the ground zeros
of various tests, the meteorological conditions affecting
local fallout at the time of the tests, and the subsequent
weathering and radioactive decay.
Bikini Atoll consists of some fifteen islands and two
BOKBATA
BRAVO 54
TEWA 56
ROMEO 54
FIR 58
UNION 54
ASPEN 58
CHEROKEE S056
SYCAMOR 5B
CEDAR 58
POPLAR 58
YANKEE 54
MAPLE 58
REDWOOO 58
BIKINI
NAVAHO MH OSG
BIKINI ATOLL
BOKDROLUL
BOKAETOKTOK S,
OROKEN a
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MICKORY 58
JUNIPER 58
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ABLE 46
EROKOU-
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ENEMAN
COMPLEX
NAUTICAL MILES
Fig. 1.
Bikini Atol showing locations with code names and years of nuclear weapons teats.