36
5. DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The conclusions reached and the issues raised by the body off this
report are quite straightforward.
The dose received is due to rafiations
from (a) soil and vegetation externally, and (b) from the food eaten.
The review has shown that DOE-1982 overestimated the 1978-2008 adult dose
at Rongelap Island.
The whole-body dose reported now {1.25 rem,
BO-year)
is one-half of theirs;
for the red marrow it is 40% (1.34 rem).
Both
sets of values (DOE-1982 and ours) are well below the current U.
whole-body guide of 5 rem.
I conclude that a return to residenc@ on
Rongelap Island is permissible.
.
(The doses in this report "start" in 1978.
10 years later, would be about 20% less.)
5.1
The current 1984
dose,
Assumptions
Within the simple statement on return are several tacit ass gmptions.
Living conditions on return should be equivalent to those prior
fo
leaving in 1985.
In particular, the diet should be equivalent t@
former one and thus should meet the following conditions.
the
(a)
The food consumed was in part raised locally, but was ~lso
purchased when the supply ship visited at regular intervals.
I [ssume
that as much money would be available now as was available then.
(b) In addition, the families received foods distributed bythe USDA
Special Food Assistance Program, but which has only one more yeafk
In the final year, the allotment will be one-quarter of what it
I understand that a request for a 3 or 5 year extension is being]
to go.
fas been.
asked
for. The extent to which this program, or an equivalent one, conld
continue into the future will require discussion.
(c)
I have been told that it was only in 1982 that the peaple
(d)
Looking at the map in Fig. 4 #1, one can see how the
(e)
There are no restrictions on fishing, anywhere. Terregtrial
(f)
There are no restrictions that apply to Ailingnae Atojl.
became aware of the restriction on food gathering in the more naqrthern
islands (e.g., Naen).
That restriction should remain in force.
axternal
exposure rate (i.e., that from soil and vegetation) increases om both
Sides of the lagoon as one goes from the southernmost islands off Rongelap
and Arbar toward the north.
For the time being I would considey as
forbidden territory all islands to the north of Borukka and Enidetok.
All to the south are suitable for food gathering and residence.
crabs are restricted like other foods.
(g) I would also add to these restrictions that no arrow
consumed. Little was consumed during the 10-15 years prior to
Joot be
Jeaving in
1985 because, as I understand it, there was none on Rongelap Isfand.
Since then the plant has returned. The plant is troublesome tojprepare,
and I would suppose that as long as supplies of flour and rice fre
available, it will not be used.
-
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