4OLe7 7 Marre, (Les ZS Mareh 21, 1979 RADIOLOGICAL IMPLICATION FOR RESETTLEMENT OF ENEU ISLAND BACKGROUND In August 1978 the residents of Bikini Island left their Atoll because measurements of radiocesium made in April 1978 showed accumulations in the bodies of 13 out of 101 people, which if maintained for one year, would be equal to or greater than the Federal Radiation Protection Standard of 500 mRem/Yr. At that time, information on the radionuclide content of test plantings of food crops and on a sufficient number of samples of coconuts grown on Eneu Island was not available but would be in early 1979. With this new information, dose predictions for residence on Eneu Island could, for the first time, be based upon data from analysis of actual food items of the diet grown on the island rather than on theoretical predictions derived from soil concentrations. In the meeting on July 25, 1978, with the Congressional Committee*, it was agreed that priority would be given to collecting and analyzing the available data so a judgement can be made on wnether or not the Bikini people can return to live on Eneu Island. RADIATION SOURCES The two sources of radiation exposure to people living on Eneu Island will be: external exposures from natural background radiation which is very low and radiation from man-made radionuclides remaining in the soil from nuclear tests at Bikini Atoll: and, internal exposure due to nuclear test radionuclides internally deposited in the body from eating locally grown foods. The external radiation dose rate has been determined from measurements taken by the recent aerial radiological survey. The average external dose for Eneu residents is calculated using measurements of external radiation and estimates of time spent in various areas of the island, The average internal radiation dose is calculated using estimates of the amounts and kinds of food in the diet and measurements of the radionuclide content of these foods and of drinking water. *Interior and Related Agencies Subcommittee, Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives. I0098b5