The total dose received was the sum of the external and internal
doses. The external whole-body dose was estimated by measuring the
exposure in air (e.g., at 1 meter above ground) and applying a factor
based ultimately on measurements with phantoms to the meter reading. The
internal dose was estinated by the Livermore group on the basis of an
assumed diet and the analysis of the radionuclide contents of Rongelap
food products in it.
The lagoon and its fish were found to be a trivial source of dose.
Ground water (well water) was an unimportant source, since its activity

was very low and, in any case, the people relied heavily on catchment of
rain rather than wells (Noshkin et al }981).

Before considering the data, the nonprofessional reader may wish to
consult Note 6 which explains the radiological usage of such terms as
exposure and dose, and the definition of their units. It may also be
noted here that my use of the term whole-body dose (internal) usually
signifies the committed effective dose equivalent; the tissue dose
(internal) is usually the committed dose equivalent. DOE-1982 used
integral doses calculated by the Livermore group, i.e., the annual dose
(not committed dose) for each year was summed for the period of exposure.

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