proved unsatisfactory. The Enewetak people were relocated at Ujelang Atoll to
the south after their evacuation.
After the 1958 moratorium on atmosphe«ic nuclear testing, numerous
radiological surveys were done on Bikini and later on Enewetak Atoll. In

1967, the principal radionuclides contributing to. the gamma radiation field on
Bikini and its neighboring island of Enue were 137 Cs,
co, 125sp, and *55Eu;

slight amounts of plutonium were also found. Considerable variation was seen
in the degree of contamination of individual islands comprising the atolls of
Bikini and Enewetak.
In 1968, an Ad hoc Committee reviewed the survey results for Bikini and
decided that Enue and Bikini Islands were safe for habitation, with certain
measures recommended to reduce exposure. In 1969, about 30 people started
work on Bikini Atoll (living on Enue), and in 1971 several Bikini families
moved back to Bikini Island. The number of people increased to about 145 by
1978 before their relocation. Annual radiological monitoring of personnel was
carried out beginning in 1969 as well as numerous radiological surveys of the
island (13,218-221,225).

Personnel monitoring consisted of annual -adiochem-

ical urine bioassays and whole-body gamma spectrographic analyses ir 1974 and
1977 by the medical group. Since that time whole-body counting and other personnel monitoring as well as environmental studies have been carried out by
the BNL Safety and Environmental Protection Division.
The estimated doses to the Bikini people from the environmental contamination were so low that medical examinations were not indicated. However, on
visits to the island, the doctors have held “sick call," and in 1978 the people were given complete physicals by the visiting medical team. Since the relocation of the people in 1979, medical examinations have been done on these

Bikini people living on Majuro Atoll. No thyroid or other radiation-related
problems were noted. Personnel monitoring has also continued on this
population.
When the people returned to Bikini, they received a continuing complete
food subsidy from the Trust Territory Government. Before locally grown fruits
(coconuts, pandanus, breadfruit, etc. ) became available, radioassays showed

body burdens well within acceptable ranges.

When these fruits became avail-

able, radioassays showed radionuclide levels (particularly 137cs and 9%sr)

that were higher than expected, and the people were admonished not to eat the
locally grown foods. In spite of this warning, radiockemical urine analyses
and whole-body counting of personnel showed a continuing increase in body
burdens of these radionuclides to levels that were considered unacceptable.
Also, low levels of plutonium were thought to be detected, but this finding
has not been verified, and contamination of the samples is thought to have
been a factor. Because of these unexpected and unfavorable developments, the

people were again removed from Bikini in August 1978.

The results of personnel monitoring of the Bikini inhabitants are presented in Appendix II. From the residence period between 1969 and 1978, exposure data indicate that a maximally exposed person on Bikini received a dose
equivalent commitment of 3 rem, and the population average dose equivalent com-

mitment was 1.2 rem (223).

The Bikini inhabitants are now living on atolls in the southern
Marshalls and are being monitored at intervals. The results show a continuing
reduction in their body burdens.

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