Position Statement
on

BNL Marshall Islands Radiological Safety Program
- The long range plan is to provide contemporary personnel monitoring and
dosimetry data for present and former residents of Utirik, Rongelap, Ailinginae,
Enewetak, and Bikini Atolls. Whole-body counting and urine bioassay activities
are to be conducted to assess chronic radiation doses. These services will be
expanded to include the growing number of people returning to Enewetak.
Important historical radiological monitoring data is to be used to reassess
past thyroid and whole-body doses to residents of Rongelap, Utirik, Likiep,
Ujelang and Ailuk. Activation analysis of soil samples and meteorological
modelling of BRAVO fallout transport and deposition has been used to reassess
doses to Rongelap, Utirik, and Likiep residents. The future performance of
retrospective dosimetry requires further manipulation of historical and contemporary personnel monitoring and environmental monitoring data.

Retrospective

dosimetry will assist in identifying exposed populations and potential health
effects.

Development of control data is to be performed for medical, physiological,
and radiological parameters. A compilation of control statistics on spontaneous incidence levels for. radiation related diseases and means and ranges for

anthropometric, radiologic and metabolic parameters for Marshallese man, woman,

and child will be used to accurately define personnel doses. Progress in this
area is to be made in cooperation with the Medical Research Program.

A quantitative assessment of radionuclide intake will be performed to
model body burden kinetics and predict or reconstruct doses, Diet and living
pattern studies will require periods of residence by BNL scientists in a
Marshallese community. Also, educational programs regarding radiation will be
conducted to help persons learn about radiation related problems on their home
atolls. The transmittal of educational information will be facilitated by the
same conditions which permit development of diet and living pattern information.
These activities formulate the future direction of sound radiation safety

programs in the Marshall Islands. They involve direct interaction with
Marshallese people and provide individual radiation exposure histories. For
harmonious field trip impact on Marshallese communities, for logistical cost
effectiveness and for dosimetry which relates to medical findings, the Medical
Program and the Radiological Safety Program should be closely coupled.

Select target paragraph3