Department of Energy Washington, D.C. 20545 ¢ i May 17, 1978 Hal Hollister, Director, OES THRU: L. Joe Deal, ADFO SUGGESTED DOE RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS ON BIKINI ATOLL RESETTLEMENT The following questions and answers are presented in the interest of properly responding to inquiries about Bikini Atoll residents and recent radiological findings: 1. What is DOE's recommendation on the question of whether residents of Bikini Island should be again relocated? Answer: DOE has performed followup radiological surveys of the environment and of people who have returned to live on Bikini Island. Survey results are used to predict radiation doses of residents which are then compared with current radiation protection standards applicable to members of the general public. DOE uses and applies current radiation protection philosophy and numerical standards and supports the concept of: keeping radiation exposures as low as practical. 1974 survey results indicated doses of Bikini residents were well within the standards. 1977 results showed a tenfold increase in body burdens of cesium-137, the major contributor to wholebody radiation dose, with one in- dividual slightly above the limit for cesium-137. These elevated dose rates were due to use of foods grown of Bikini Island. The residents were told they must not eat foods from Bikini Islands. The April 1978 survey shows a 75 percent increase in cesium-137 burdens in Bikini Island residents compared to 1977. Several individuals are exceeding current standards. Unless some effective measure is taken, these cesium-137 body burdens will remain at this level or move even higher, and the radiation standards will be exceeded year after year by some individuals. More: 1. A The following must be recognized: Controi of radiation exposures for Bikini Island residents requires a high level of compliance with recommended restrictions against use of foods grown on the island, a restriction that has proved impractical. CoM ee | Pox ¥3_ L ue Deol | ce Fatder MavsballVand~?Maag”™ J