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BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY
ASSOCIATED UNIVERSHIES, INC.

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Upton, New York 11973

Safety & Environmental Protection Division

(516) 345-4210
August 3,

1978

Dr. Charles A. Sondhaus
Professor of Radiological Sciences
University of California
College of Medicine
Irvine, California

92664

Dear Chuck:
As indicated in our telephone conversation,
update of what has been done so far.

I am presenting herewith an

The funding for this project came through during late February, which has
put certain constraints on getting the necessary work assigned to outside

Laboratories in order to be completed by September 1978.

However, we hope that

preliminary discussions can be launched with the information we already have and

with interim results from laboratories.
« The 129, determination in soil samples is being done by Dr. Fred Brauer
{Battelle Labs-Dr. Ballou is the group leader).
Dr. Seymour, Director, Laboratory
of Radiation Ecology, University of Washington has kindly provided us with soil
samples from Rongelap and Utirik collected in March 1954 and from subsequent years.

These samples should provide us with information on 1297.
outlining the procedure.

Discussions with Drs.

Enclosed is a paper

Ballou and Brauer indicated that

they would check for loss of iodine -during storage of samples using their own historic samples; and also look for 99 Tc,

if feasible.

Dr.

Soldat indicated that

297cO4- ion dose could be similar to 129r and possibly could contribute to the dose
delivered to the thyroid gland at time of fallout.
He also suggested that the data
on ingestion of dirt by children as documented by Dr. Healy (UC-41, LASL-LA-6337 PR)

should prove valuable in assessing pathways.
the 1297 data as it comes out.

Dr. Ballou will have a first look at

We are at present looking through all the reports in our possession and pulling
out every bit of information concerning the March 1, 1954 fallout.on Ailinginae,
Rongelap, Rongerik and Utirik.
In this way, we hope to have access to data that
would be required to estimate internal and external dose.
Also, such collating
will help evaluate the validity of observations.
I am sending by separate mail all

your reports.

We appreciate the opportunity to have had access to these valuable

references.

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