SLIDE 53
Body burden history at Rongelap and Utirik.

Adult average body~burden data

and urine-activity concentration data were used as input quantities to
equations which related them to activity intake rates.
These input data were

obtained from Conard's medical report (Co56, Co58, Co59, Co60, Co62, Co63,
Co67, Co70, Co75, Wo59) and from recent surveys performed by members of the
BNL Safety and Environmental Protection Division.

An equation was developed to relate the activity in the urine or whole

body to the activity taken in by ingestion of contaminated food and fluids.

To select an appropriate model for this relationship, we examined the bodyburden history and fhe highgry of ggtivity in vegetation and soil.
Activity
concentrations of
Cs,
I and
Sr in surface soil on Rongelap and Utirik
Atolls were observed by us to decline with time at a rate greater than

radioactive decay #59™ 1954 §8 the present (Ne77, Ne79, Br82).

concentrations of

Cs and

Activity

Sr in vegetation were observed to decline at a

rate greater than that predicted by radioactive decay alone (Ne77, Ne79).
Body burdens and urine activity concentrations were observed to increase

rapidly and to decline slowly throughout the residence time of persons at
Rongelap and Utirik Atolls (Co75, Le80b). These observations led to the
selection of a declining continuous intake model.
The lines fitting the declining continuous intake model at Rongelap are
presented here.
Measured results are plotted.
The body burdens at Utirik

were a factor of 2.6 times less than those at Rongelap for the period 1958 to
1984,

—--—0o Fe-55
—-—e
Cs_137

RONGELAP

----- + Zn-65

BODY BURDEN, nCi

—-——4 Co-60
a Sr-90
s

@

=
ry)
fay
ae
a
[oa]
a
ro}
.?)
a

TIME PAST REHABITATION, days

51

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