DOSIMETRIC RESULTS FOR THE BIKINI POPULATION
N. A. Greenhouse, R. P. Miltenberger, E. T. Lessard
Safety and Environmental Protection Division
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Upton, New York 11973
During the mid 19401s through 1958, the United States conducted
high
yield weapons tests at Bikini and IinewetalcAtolls.
were contaminated with fallo”ut
gram,
concentrating
on
the
from the tests.
main
residence
Islands at Bikini Atoll, began in 1969.
These areas
A restoration pro-
islands
of
Bikini
and
Eneu
Approximately thirty Trust
Territory residents including some former Bikini Atoll inhabitants
participated
inthe
initial
cleanup
and
redevelopment
of the Atoll.
During subsequent years, the Bikini population increased to soGIe 140
individuals at the time of their departure in August 1978.
{
Between
1969 and 1974, scrub vegetation on Bilcini.and Eneu Is-
ltindswas cleared and indigenous food crops were planted.
crops consisted mainly of coconut, pandmus
These
and brcadfsuit trees but
included a garden development where squash, papzya, bananas and other
crops
were grown (RO 77).
During the maturation interval for most of
the tree crops (5-7 years), the majority of the food consumed on
Bikini Island was imported by Trust Territory supply vessels.
As the
local vegetation developed, the diet became less restricted to
imported foods so that by 1978, the diet contained substantial quanti.
ties
of locally grown
items.
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