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An extensive survey of the atoll was last carried out
in 1964, when the emphasis was on examining the radioactivity
of flora and fauna and obtaining large numbers of samples of
rats, birds, soils, and marine life for laboratory anaiysis.
Thus, the gathering of additional samples of these types on
this survey was not a primary requirement.
However, a
fairly large number of soil samples were taken and brought
back for analysis so that the in situ measurements could be
supplemented by calculations based on the isotopic concentrations determined by laboratory gamma ray spectroscopy,
radiochemistry, and lithium drifted germanium spectroscopy.
The external radiation survey techniques utilized were
largely those developed and used by the Health and Safety
Laboratory for the past several years in conducting detailed
investigations of the properties of the external radiation
environment in the United States*'*°*.
fap em ne
In addition to the survey measurements an experiment of
the radiological effects of clearing a particularly heavily
vegetated area was carried out on Bikini Island near the
beginning of the survey trip.
Besides the authors, who were primarily responsible for
the external radiation measurements, the survey team included
Edward Held, University of Washington Marine Radiobiolcgist,
the survey leader; his assistant, Robert Erickson;
Arnold Joseph of the Division of Biology and Medicine;
Led
+ aes
James Hiyane, Trust Territory District Agriculturist;
Jack Tobin, former Trust Territory District Anthropologist;
and Francis Tomnovek and Edward Jones of the U. S. Naval
Radiological Defense Laboratory
(USNRDL) who conducted most
of the TLD studies and supplied and serviced the G-M
detectors.
The survey team spent a total of 16 working days on the
atoll using a U.
S.
Trust Territory ship, the M.
S. Militobi,
as a base of operations.
Fourteen islands and the two
island complexes were surveyed.
Only the very small island
of Adrikan in the southwest corner of the atoll was bypassed.
About ten days were spent on the three large
sete nd
islands, particularly Bikini Island
(seven days).
All of