The U.S.
Department of Energy must recognize that,
because of past unfortunate experiences,
the people of Bikini
have little confidence in U.S. Government scientists.
1968,
the Atomic Energy Commission, DOE's predecessor,
that Bikini could be safely resettled.
based on a diet survey showing that
In
stated
This conclusion was
a
Bikinian's entire
daily intake of coconut, one of the predominant foods in his
diet, would be nine grams ~- two or three teaspoonsful.
figure was grossly erroneous.
typographical error,
and 900 grams.
In fact,
This
it was probably a
since the correct figure is between 600
Nevertheless,
this nine-gram figure was
plugged into the computations and resulted in an extraordin-
arily low internal dose assessment.
The scientists who
estimated the health risks in 1968 failed to assess the
plausibility of all the data upon which their calculations
were based.
As a result, people were resettled on Bikini
from 1969 until 1978,
at which point the people living on the
island were again evacuated
following disclosure that their
body burdens of radioactive cesium-137 greatly exceeded U.S.
standards.
In light of this history,
it is no wonder that
5
the Bikinians demand a survey that is truly independent ool TF.
thorough -- one that includes an independent gathering of
nev. samples from Bikini.