fallout from food was reported by persons evacuated from Rongelap or Sifo Is-
lands (Sh57).
Fallout was distributed on the surface of Rongelap Island at 12
hours post detonation at a level of about 1 Ci m2 (see Table 5).
This was in
good agreement with soil sample data obtained on March 8, 1954 (0C68).
Based on
a conversion factor given by the persons doing the soil analysis (0C68) the
measured soil specific activity was converted to activity per unit area at 12
hours post detonation for comparison purposes.
Their value for Rongelap Island
was 0.53 + 0.72 Ci m2 and was based on four samples.
Considering the variables
involved with the Bikini Ash estimate of activity per unit area and the variability in soil sampling (see Section III), these two estimates were in very good
agreement.
Random soil sampling was done at Utirik Island, Sifo Island,
Eniwetak Island and other islands of Rongelap, Ailinginae, Utirik and Rongerik
Atolls as well (0C68).
At the end of fallout deposition at Utirik Island,
estimated to be 36 hours post detonation, the surface activity based on one sample was 0.058 Ci m-,
This one data point was abcut 5 times too high based on
exposure rate data, however, soil analysis data exhibited wide variations in
soil taken from nearly the same spot (0C68).
passed by at 8 hours post detonation.
At Sifo Island, the fallout cloud
The activity per unit area at Sifo was
measured also with one soil sample and was 0.032 Ci a2,
At Eniwetak Island the
BRAVO cloud was estimated to pass by at 16 hours post detonation and the
measured surface activity at that time was 0.32 £0.21 Ci nm, based on 2
samples.
The outside area used to prepare food for the mid-day or evening
meals at Rongelap may have been about 1-2 m for a family (see Figs. 9-15).
Cooking was done over an open fire fueled by coconut shells (Na80).
28
Boiling and