5/10/79
AC 1 20 1
RADIOLOGICAL IMPLICATION
FOR RESETTLEMENT OF ENEU ISLAND
SUMMARY
Unless imported food is a substantial and continuing part of
‘the diet of the Eneu population for about 20 years, unless the
Eneu population can effectively be prevented from access to Bikini
Island for several years,
and unless no food from Bikini Island is
eaten for about 30 years,
it is unlikely that radiation doses
to
people living on Eneu Island would be in compliance with federal
radiation protection guidancel,
past practices,
however,
Based upon previous experience and
it is doubtful whether imported food will
be a part of the daily diet and that access to Bikini Island can
be restricted.
Therefore,
a return to Eneu Island should be delayed
for close to 20 years if radiological dose is the only governing
factor unless a firm commitment can be made which will guarantee
that adequate imported food will be available and used by the people,
and that residence can be restricted to Eneu Island.
If the Enewetak
radiation exposure criteria’ are to be applied to the Eneu population,
it is unlikely that the radiation doses to the people would be in
compliance with
the criteria for approxiinately 20 years,
even if
imported food is available and if mobility is restricted.
criteria,
because of
Under either
a return to Bikini Island would be delayed even longer
the higher levels of radionuclides in the soil.
iThe Federal Radiation Council (FRC) recommended exposure limits of
500 mrem/yr to individuals, 170 mrem/yr to average population groups,
and 5000 mrem/30 yrs to the average population of the U.S.
2Fnewetak criteria are one half of the FRC exposure limit for individuals
5009210
and 80 percent of the FRC 30-year exposure limit.
Gum