DOSE ASSESSMENT AT BIKINI ATOLL
Abstract
2ikini Atoil
is
ome of
Six living patterns were evaluated.
two sites in
the northern Marshall Islands that ‘as
Ome was based on living and optaining
used by the United States as testing
ail subsistence crops from Bikini
grounds for the nuclear weapons vro-
Island,
gram from 1946 to 1958.
another on living on and
obtaining all subsistence crops from
In 1969 a
general cleanup began at Bikini Atoil.
Eneu Island.
Subsistence crops,
of various combinations or housing and
coconur and Pandanus
subsistence crops from the two islands.
fruit, were planted on Bikini and Eneu
Islands,
Other patterns consisted
The terrestrial pathway contri-
and housing was constructed
putes the greater percentage, ex-
on Bikini Island.
ternal gamma exposure contributes
A second phase of housing was
planned for the interior of Bikini
the next highest, and inhalation
Island.
and marine pathways contri-
Preliminary data indicated
that external gamma doses in the
bute minor fractions of the
interior of the island might be nigher
total whole body and bone marrow
than in other parts of the island.
doses.
Therefore, to select a second site for
buting the major fraction of
housing on the island with minimimm
the dose are ’’sr and 13766,
The radionuclides contri-
All living patterns involving
external exposure, a survey of Bikini
Atoll was conducted in Jume 1975.
3ikini Island exceed federal
External gamma measurements were made
guidelines for 30-yr population
on Bikini and Eneu Islands, and soil
doses.
and vegetations samples collected to
pattern leads to doses that are
evaluate the potential doses via ter-
slightly less than federal guide-
restrial food chains and inhalation.
lines.
Estimates of potential dose via the
for Bikini Atoll lead to higher
marine food chain were based upon data
doses than those on the southern
The Eneu Island living
All patterns evaluated
collected on previous trips to the atoll. islands at Enewetak Atoll.
Purpose of the 1975 Bikini Survey
Bikini Atoll is one of two sites in
were used by the United States as testing
grounds tor the nuclear weapons
the northern Marshall Islands thar
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