INTRODUCTION

The Enewetak people were relocated to Ujelang Atoll in 1948 so

that the United States could conduct part of its nuclear testing program
at Enewetak Atoll.

In 1972, at the request of the Enewetak Council, the

U.S. Government began the process of returning Enewetak Atoll to the
Enewetak people.

A part of the U.S. Government's responsibility was to

determine the radiological

status of the atoll end to estimate the radio-

logical doses as a consequence.of resettlement.

Therefore, a

preliminary survey was conducted from October 1972 through February 7,
1973.

The results of this survey and the associated assessment were

published in late 1973.!
The general conclusions from that survey were:

(1) the terres-

trial food chain presented the greatest source of potential dose to a
returning population, (2) !3’cs and 99Sr were the most significant
radionuclides over the next few decades, (3) living patterns involving
the northern half of the atoll would result in rediation exposure that
would exceed U.S. Federal Guidelines--the southerm hali of the atoll
presented no problem for either residence or agriculture,

and (4) the

transuranic isotopes presented a long term source of expusure in the
northern and eastern regions of the atoll.

Since that initial radiological survey wore data were accumulated
concerning the concentration and uptake of the radionuclides into the
terrestrial and marine food chains.

In addition, new data were

developed for external ganma exposures and soil radionuclide

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