EVALUATION OF THE RADIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF THE
WATER ON BIKINI AND ENEU ISLANDS IN 1975:
DOSE ASSESSMENT BASED ON INITIAL SAMPLING
Abstract
In June of 1975 we conducted a survey to determine the residual radio-
acceptable as drinking water in
accordance with standard limits
‘activity in the terrestrial environ-
established by the U.S.
ment on the two main islands
Service.
Bikini) of Bikini Atoll.
tive was
(Eneu and
Our objec-
to evaluate the potential
However,
Public Health
on both islands
the quality of the groundwater
varies from one site to another.
radiation doses that could be received
At some wells both chemical and
by the Bikinians scheduled to return
radiological quality are acceptable;
ta
at others one or both are unacceptable
their atoll.
This report describes
the radiological quality of the ground-
according to U.S.
water during June 1975 (from data
Standards.
obtained from water samples collected
from consumption of both cistern
at oid and new well sites on both
and groundwater are acceptable under
islands)
federal guidelines.
and
the cistern water on
Bikini Island.
these samples,
cistern water
Based on analyses of
we found that
the
Public Heaith
The doses we predict
However,
doses
predicted from consumption of groundwater are high enough to warrant
from Bikini Island is
both chemically and radiologically
careful evaluation of other potential
exposure pathways.
Introduction
To evaluate the potential radiation
doses
that could be received by-
Bikinians returning to
their atoll,
exposure rates and collecting samples
of soil,
groundwater,
we conducted a survey during June
and vegetation
1975
the internal doses
.
L-4
food chains.
to determine
the residual radio-
activity in the terrestrial environment on Bikini and Eneu Islands of
Bikini Atoll.
The survey included
ummm ; G |
ee
measuring environmental gamma-ray
cistern water,
to use in assessing
from pertinent
This report describes
logical quality of
the radio-
the groundwater