eo re
Would you please consider and comment upon the following revised letter to
= /--
Interior re. coconuts on the northeastern islands of Enewetak:”
The following is in response to your verbal request that the Department of
Energy assess for you the radiological consequences which might accrue to the people
of Enewetak
assuming that they reside only on the islands uf Enewetak, Medren and
Japtan, and assuming that coconut trees are planted on the northeastern ifslands of
the Enewetak Atol], specifically the islands of Lujor, Lojwa, Aomon, Bijire, Aej and
Alembel.
In what follows we are concerned only with potential health consequences to the
people of Enewetak and not with the question of the acceptability.
or marketability -
of “copraon the world market or at specific processing facilities, nor with any
possible U.S. involvement with respect to the acceptability or marketability of the
copra.
Information regarding the distributfon or binding properties of
radto-
nuclides of concern in coconuts fs not yet available, and the commercial implications
of same is an issue not addressed fn this letter.
The exposure estimates below are based upen preliminary information analyzed
by the staff of the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory and included in thetr draft report entitled, "Preliminary Reassessment of the Potential Radiological Doses for
Residents Resettling Enewetak Atoll.“
values are
o
It must be emphasized that while these
best estimates, they are onty estimates and could be in error by
aR,
a factor of a4)
Furthermore, they are based upon average values, and indtviduals
ae
eoutd depart from the average -~ in either direction -- to varying degrees depending
upon personal lifestyles. praclivities
+» and dfet preferences. Nor do the exposure
estimates consider those individuals who might, for whatever reason, engage in
practices which could lead to excessive exposures.
Although the data base for the potential exposure estimates is not yet complete
{e.g., the island of Lujor had not yet been factored into the dose calculations),
.
-
it ts not expected that additional information will substantively altsR
estimates; should this occur, however, we will immediately infor you.
eeeeneaee
the exposure