401313
Mr. Dixy Lee Ray
Page 3
‘
April 17,1974
BEST COPYAVAILABLE
Will you favor us with a copy of the recommendations and conclusions
for human habitation based upon such a study? The radiation figures
we have do not appear to take possible internal radiation into
account.
4.
The Smith and “Moore report which we have indicates that the
mean -background radiation in the village area on Sikini island is
44 micro r/hr.
On a yearly basis, this produces an exposure of
375 mr per year.
Tne Smith-Moore report indicates, nowever,
that the village area will be covered with crushed coral, which
they say, will cut the mean exposure rate in half.
Does tne AEC
have hard data to support this statement? Similarly, it is said
that the concrete floors of the houses will reduce the exposure.
We do not doubt that the concrete will reduce the exposure, but hew
much will it reduce it? Quite clearly an exposure rate of 375 mr
per year is more than double the established guidelines for population grceups, which is set at 170 mr per year.
Rather than speculate
On What the exposure levels might be with concrete or coral, we sould
like to know exactly what the levels are in tne areas where the
Bikinians wili do most of their living.
Perhaps surveys that hav
been done since 1967 show such figures, or, hepefully, the survey
just completed by Dr. Conard and others will disclose reliahi
figures for exposure levels in the village area.
5.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we hope that the AEC will
present the Rikini peovle with reliable data,
opinions,
and reconmmenda-
tions based upon the data, in order that they can decide for thenselves what risks are acceptable. The cecisions that might need
to be made, for examole, are where te live (Kili or Bikini; if
Bikini, which island, and where, on that island); what island at
Bikini should be visited, and for how long; what foods should be
eaten or avoided, and in what quantity.
It appears to be fairly
Certain tnat the Bikinians wili choose to live on Bixini rather than
Kili,
even if there
is some probability of harmful
effect from radia-
tion.
To the best of our knowledge, the other questions have not
yet been specifically addressed by the Bikinians.
It is, of course, quite difficult to present the questions cf posSible risks from low dosaze radiation in a meaningful, comorehensible,
non-alarming manner.
Nevertheless,
we believe it
is important to
make the uttempt.
Our brief study of the area has not led to a
clear idea of how the explanation should best be made.
In response
to a question, Dr. Walter Nervik has informed us that attempts to
State probabilitics of cenetic and/or sonatic defects,
based on
various dosage levels, will not be meaningful when applied to a pepulation as small as 600 people.
Mr. Roger Ray, of the AEC Nevada
Operations office, has suggested that comparisons of radiation levels
at Bikini with the United States or elsewhere will be a useful
aay
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500951b
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