induced activides (Fe, 3758Co, HMn, ACs.
Hp E 7 7.8Nb, andRu iRh), Radiclyical

ananmecnt has included surveys for gamma radiatienJevels on the islands; radiochemical studies of
wil profiles, lagoon bottoms, marine life, plants, aniinal life (e.g., rats, coconut crabs), food items, and

urine sunples; and ganna spectrographic analysis
of internally deposited gamma conitiers in peu:
nel. The medical team has been responsible since
1009 for monitoring the beady burdens ofthe people
returning to Bikind, as well asofthe Marshallese ex.
poseabto fallout aod Cheir controls, and more re

cently alse of the people returning to Eniwetuk,
Vhe 1977 studies of environmental radiation on

Ronyelap, Ciik, and bikini are beiny published

separately, Ue
Uneul 1965 gamma spectroscopy was done in a
2) -ton steel chamber built at BNL for shielding,
with additional housing foc the counting equipment (Figure 54). Mhe subject to be counted took

a soap and water shower, pul on paper pajamas,
and then stayed in the chamber for about 15 min,
during which soft music was piped in, Only a few
stnall children were apprehensive during the proevdaure. More reccutly whole-body counting has
been done with a smaller “shadow-shield” are
rangement of bead bricks, a modification of the

Hantord model" (Figure 34). [a L974 spectros
£

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———

v

Er

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Activity (onants: 14 min)

-

aso
:

a Kongelap male

SMe

trast he

law
Foo
‘am
h~
.

A

s

oy
eoy

N
‘ Af

vy!

‘

"We are indebted to Mr. Edward P. Hardy, Je., Director, Ene
vinmamental Studies Divuion, AEC Health and Safety Laboratory, New York, N.Y, for carrying out she radiochemical
analy ece.
Table W

Radionuclides in Coconut Crabs From Rongelap

Cs, pCi‘kg

*

IW

SOIT (SOME, 45,518;

758 (BOS: 028; 700)

105
lth
1o72

12,706
7.7975 (8,540; 7,010)
3.900 (5,000; 6,100:

724
705 (910; 500)
$95 (376; 449; 359;

12,900°

93.4"

“4
'

Th | et eeL.

(nt

LAb

WSr, pCi,’g Ca

1Moh
9c?

>

ws

Year

1,140
L224 (1,317; 1,086;

66,234)

!

.

met

Fawrev pMeVy

Figure $5. Gamma spectra obtained by whole-body

counting, males, 174 (—, Rongelap; ---, WNL meii-

cal want),

ples from a number of people have been made for
radiochemical analysis.
The results of radiochemical analyses of urine,
water, and crabs over the past 5 years are summarized in Vables 37 to 40; the results of individual urinalyses are given in Appendix 12.* By
1974 the only detectable gamma emitter was
TCs; ius levels are given for Rongelap, Utirik.
and Bikini individuals in Appendix 12 and for
groups in Table 41. Since the return to Rongelap,
no differences have been seen between expused
and unexposed groups.
Figures 56 and 37 show the estimated body
burdens of gamma cmitiers and “Sr for the Rongclap people at various times after the initial exposure in 1954. After their return ta Rongelap the
body burdens increased, 8Zn was present for a
few years, apparentlyfrom fish in the dict; the reason for its rapid decrease was not immediately apparent but maybe related to movements of marine
life in and out of the lagoon. Small amounts of
®Co were identified in personnel during the carly
years after the return (the highest concentration
was in clams). Sr body burdens reached their
highest level during 1962 to 1965 at about $2 nCi

]3
4

j

fab

o

55}, "67.168 Annual collections of 24-hr urine sam-

|3
4

DN

we —

the lowlevels present in the people (sce Figure

wees HNL. inedical teain 3

.

.

graphs showed a characteristic peak for 43'Cs and

“Zn, but “Co was barely discernible, if at all, at

1973
1974

HUW: 5,100)

37,005 (64,700: 9440)"
6,600 (5,000; 8,200)
4,B00*

Wats. $378)

259)

3.950 (6,039; 1,267)*
448 (290: 606)
we

*From northern islands of Rongelap Atoll, where raciation dose was much higher,

"eeeme

ee
_—e,

Select target paragraph3