Table 2.
Analytical data from cistern water sampled on June 21,
Island (Bikini Atoll).
Chemicals (ppm)
7
Bldg.
=
Cl
5
35.6
6.4 OL 8.4
24
23.1
3.8
O.1
9.1
10.5
19.8 1.3
School
21.5
O
0.2
6.0
18
16
SO,
Sr
K
Ca
*
on Bikini
Radionuclides (pCi/litre)®
Meg
7 SY
0
239,24
3952 Ou
1.201)
7.9 x 10°? (5)
1.8(2)
1.9(2)
1.7(2)
1.42(7)
13.7 x 107? (4)
3
1376.
8.5 26.7 2.2 2.5(1)
The values in parentheses are
of the listed values.
ai
Na
1975,
0.7
29.0 x 107
the l-o counting errors expressed
*
239,240
(2)
as percentages
present levels are also similar to
average
the 1971-1973 water concentrations
17 £Ci/litre in the cistern water is
in Lake Ontario.*“
ereater than the average surface
levels of 906,
are less
These present
in the Bikini wells
than 204 of
Pu concentration of
groundwater concentrations at Eneu
the drinking-
(9 FCi/litre) but much lower
than the
water Limit of 10 pCi/litre estab-
average concentration (44 f£Ci/litre)
lished by
in Bikini surface groundwater.
the U.S.
Public Health
service for domestic supplies and
Examination of
the radionuclide
are 0.4% of the FRC limit of 300
concentrations in the cistern water
pCi/litre.
and comparisons with other data
The Pao. levels are
higher than the 1974 tap water con-
reveal that the largest percentage
centrations for New York City but
of the radioactivity in the water
are only 0.014 of the maximum per-
must originate, surprisingly, from
mLSSible concentration of 20 n€i/
sources other
litre based on FRC guidelines.
Consider first
average concentration of
The
239,2
39, 4000
in the cistern water is less
than worldwide fallout.
that the 137 66/7 osy
ratio varies between 0.93 and 2.27
than
in the three samples.
One would
0.0003% of the FRE concentration
expect that fallout depositions of
guideline.
these two radionuclides would be
Interestinely,
the
-—g-
Wm scioict