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

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