4AORI7& Reply To Mitchell “LETTER: there are "none better than Dear Editor: Drs. Bender, Britl and Ogie," he ignores the serious lengthy Mitchell's Ted article in the September issue disagreement Micronesian the of Independent on the return of among the United States scientific community on the safety of Enewetak. . Dr. Rosalie SBertell, a the Enewetak people to their atoll ignores some important points and treats a number of serious health and scientific issues in a less than serious consultant to the Division of Standard Setting of the U.S. Nuclear manner. Some examples are: 1) While Mitchell says that Commésion, said Regulatory that the continued on page $ report on Enewetak's safety written by Bender and Brill "reduced the radiation dose of the inhabitants of Enbeji by averaging in the population Mitchell 3) of question the teats plutonium contamination from Runit or other islands with sarcasm, ridiculing the possibility cf "a bird flying from Runit to some island in the south with deadly radiation between its toes and fess exposed. This is like telling one member of a family his or her risk of lung cancer is lowered if the other non-smoking members of the family are included and an average risk given. It is a being eaten by somebody, whe will presumably drop dead instantly.” In fact, government scientifically scientists have noted that on ridiculous approach to public health." Dr. Edward Martell, a researcher involved in the Bikini and 1974, "The during the Enewetak testing 1950's, said in resettlement of Rongelap Atoll three species of terns in one year deposited more than 90,000 pounds of waste. As coconut irees and other plants waste as take its ~ a ~* to have tragic consequences, serious problem in the food chain. Secondly, althougn Mitchell must know of the many year's to be 2) The Defense Nuclear ume between can pose exposure to radeictivity and the development «cf leukemias, tumors and cancers, he deals with this sericus issue only Agency calls tne clean up Operation a "remarkable success." Yet tnere are inconsistencies in the jokingly. 4; Most responsible scientists use the "linear" metned to estimate hazards from government's radiaton safety plan which raise questions. For example, if you stand on the dome at Runit Island, you are not required protective to wear clothing. exposure, tnat is, health problems are directly related to the size of the dose dwon te the smallest dose. any What this means is that But "safe" exposure level of no Standing a mere 15 feet away exists. Every dose, to also a face mask to avoid breathing wind Carried plutonium particies. We know that natural radiation (which comes from the sun, etc.) is hazardous 35 on Runit Island, you are required to wear boots and oO fertilizer, particularly for the younger members of the inhabitants. Progressively worse are > o. this contamination expected for each successive generation in the affected population group." << z up such sites is extremely likely conse quences lu J m sg = the smallest exposure carries some risk. O Li m