PREFACE
The atomic energy weapons testing program,
initiated with
the detonation of the “Trinity” shot in New Mexico in 1945 and |
continued subsequently at Bikini, Eniwetok, and Nevada, has
resulted in contamination of the test sites with varying amounts
of radioactive materials.
Some of these radioactive materials
are absorbed or adsorbed by animal and plant life.
To gain an
understanding of the nature of such contamination, field studies
in the test areas are essential.
In the tests conducted at
Bikini and Eniwetok the conditions are nearly ideal for study
of the contamination of an aquatic environment.
The Applied
Fisheries Laboratory has been interested in the problems presented by disposal of radioactive wastes into water since the
United States atomic energy program was initiated.
Field studies
have been conducted by the Laboratory at Bikini and Eniwetok
since the inception of the test programs at these two atolls.
The data from these studies is recorded in a number of reports
prepared for the Atomic Energy Commission.
A list of the re-
ports is attached in the Appendix.
To complete a project such as the Marine Survey of Eniwetok Atoll for the purpose of evaluating radiological contamination requires the combined efforts of many persons and organ{zations.
We are not able to acknowledge the help and counsel
of all those who aided us but of especial help were the members
of the A.E.C. Division of Biology and Medicine staff in the
Washington office. The A.E.C. personne] at the Hanford Works,
in