Giff Johnson, a free-lance writer who has traveled extensively
throughout the Pacific, edits the Micronesia Bulletin
published in Honolulu, Hawati 96826.
by the early 1970s a few people had
begun moving back.
Many Bikinians tell of Atomic Energy Commission scientists taking
them to Bikini to demonstrate its
safety. When the Bikinians refused
to eat any local foods. fearing radia-
tion exposure. the scientists would
Pa
consume conconuts, fish and other
foods in front of the islanders to
convince them.'' In 1972, however,
the Bikinians expressed doubts
about the safety of their atoll and
voted not to return home. But the
government was committed to the
resettlement and offered Marshallese government employees free
“
we,
any -is2°Les ~*~
ee a ee!
*
.
=
PACIFIC ISLANDS
(Q.istislands)
0p,
t
—
.
S
food and housingif they would move
to Bikini.
Dumnng an Atomic Energy Commission survey of the more than 100
people living on the atoll in 1975, the
“‘presence of low levels of
plutonium" in their urine was dis-
covered. The Commission, and later
the Department of Energy, did not
consider this
“radiologically
significant.’"!? By 1977, tests showed
an 11-fold increase in the people's
body burdens of cesium-]37. Rather
than remove the population from a
hazardous environment, however.
the Department of Energy suggested
that the Trust Termtory government
institute a complete feeding program. to reduce consumption of
local foods. and thus exposure.
The Department seemed reluctant
to give up what oné Lawrence
Livermore Laboratory study called
“possibly the best available source
of data for evaluating the transfer of
Plutonium across the gut wall after
being incorporated into biological
Systems.""'3 The situation deteniorated further and by May 1978,
a high percentage of the Marshallese
body levels were above the
Maximum permissible dose allowed
in the United States. The Bikinians
were evacuated again.
26
P
*
Martasa, Carcitac aed Marthell Leads
Total island popeisnoe: 114,645
{Marshall istands District:-—~,
$ Population: 24,243
| Ares: 69.84 square mies
Noses ma |
NO
si}
Inhabited atolls nad separate intands: 110
Ocean area: @ 3,008,000 square unites
Land srea: 700 square miles
:
:
~N
*
vtmplea
.
oe
SS}
NF
$e
'
fv