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

radiological surveys were done on Bikini and later on Enewetak Atoll.

1967, the principal radionuclides contributing to the

Bikini and its neighboring island of Enue were 137¢5,

In

gamma radiation field on

%o,

125sp, and 155&u;

slight amounts of plutonium were also found. Considerable variation was seen
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
measures recommended to reduce exposure.
In 1969, about 30 people started

work on Bikini Atoll (living on Enue), and in 1971 several Bikini families

moved back to Bikini Island.
The number of people increased to about 145 by
1978 before their relocation,
Annual radiological monitoring of personnel was

carried out beginning in 1969 as well as numerous radiological surveys of the

island (13,218-221,225).
Personnel monitoring consisted of annual radiochemical urine bioassays and whole-body gamma spectrographic analyses in 1974 and
1977 by the medical group.
Since that time whole-body counting and other per-

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 contamination 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 people were given complete physicals by the visiting medical team.
Since the relocation of the people in 1979, medical examinations have been done on these

Bikini people living on Majuro Atoll. No thyroid or other radiation-related
problems were noted. Personnel monitoring has also continued on this

population.
When the people returned to Bikini, they received a continuing complete
food subsidy from the Trust Territory Government.
Before locally grown fruits
(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

locally grown foods.

In spite of this warning, radiochemical urine analyses

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,

people were again removed from Bikini in August 1978.

the

The results of personnel monitoring of the Bikini inhabitants are pre-

sented in Appendix II.

From the residence period between 1969 and 1978, expo-

sure data indicate that a maximally exposed person on Bikini received a dose

equivalent commitment of 3 rem, and the population average dose equivalent com-

mitment 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.

-~ 8 -

The results show a continuing

Select target paragraph3