proved unsatisfactory. The Enewetak people were relocated at Ujelang Atoll to the south after their evacuation. After the 1958 moratorium on atmospheric nuclear testing, numerous In radiological surveys were done on Bikini and later on Enewetak Atoll. g es to the gamma radiation field on contributin 1967, the principal radionuclid Co, 125sp, and 155£u; Bikini and its neighboring island of Enue were 137¢s, Considerable variation was seen slight amounts of plutonium were also found. in the degree of contamination of individual islands comprising the atolls of Bikini and Enewetak. In 1968, an Ad hoc Committee reviewed the survey results for Bikini and decided that Enue and Bikini Islands were safe for habitation, with certain In 1969, about 30 people started measures recommended to reduce exposure. work on Bikini Atoll (living on Enue), and in 1971 several Bikini families The number of people increased to about 145 by moved back to Bikini Island. Annual radiological monitoring of personnel was 1978 before their relocation. carried out beginning in 1969 as well as numerous radiological surveys of the island (13,218-221,225). Personnel monitoring consisted of annual radiochem- ical urine bioassays and whole-body gamma spectrographic analyses in 1974 and Since that time whole-body counting and other per1977 by the medical group. sonnel monitoring as well as environmental studies have been carried out by the BNL Safety and Environmental Protection Division. The estimated doses to the Bikini people from the environmental contami- Nation were so low that medical examinations were not indicated. However, on visits to the island, the doctors have held “sick call," and in 1978 the peoSince the reple were given complete physicals by the visiting medical team. location of the people in 1979, medical examinations have been done on these Bikini people living on Majuro Atoll. problems were noted. population. No thyroid or other radiation-related Personnel monitoring has also continued on this When the people returned to Bikini, they received a continuing complete Before locally grown fruits food subsidy from the Trust Territory Government. (coconuts, pandanus, breadfruit, etc.) became available, radioassays showed body burdens well within acceptable ranges. When these fruits became available, radioassays showed radionuclide levels (particularly 137¢5 and 29sr) that were higher than expected, and the people were admonished not to eat the In spite of this warning, radiochemical urine analyses locally grown foods. and whole-body counting of personnel showed a continuing increase in body burdens of these radionuclides to levels that were considered unacceptable. Also, low levels of plutonium were thought to be detected, but this finding has not been verified, and contamination of the samples is thought to have been a factor. Because of these unexpected and unfavorable developments, the people were again removed from Bikini in August 1978. The results of personnel monitoring of the Bikini inhabitants are preFrom the residence period between 1969 and 1978, exposented in Appendix II. sure data indicate that a maximally exposed person on Bikini received a dose equivalent commitment of 3 rem, and the population average dose equivalent commitment was 1.2 rem (223). The Bikini inhabitants are now living on atolls in the southern Marshalls and are being monitored at intervals. reduction in their body burdens. - 84 - The results show a continuing