-41975 HASL reported that a 10 liter sample of urine from Bikini contained
measurable plutonium (0.01 ~ 0.002 p Ci/liter).
This finding was of concern
and resulted in further analysis for this isotope, not only in urine but in
samples of catchment water, house dust, plants~ animals> etc.
In March,
1976 pooled urine from Bikini again was found to have about the same amount
of plutonium (0.009 ~ 0.002 p Ci/liter).
This was about 10 times the level
of residents of New York City (0.00~ ~ 0.0004 p Ci/liter) at that time as
reported by HASL.
The finding of about the same levels of
239-240
Pu in the
urine samples from people living on Rongelap at this time was unexpected.
II.
Environmental Monitoring
A.
Radiochemical Analyses are presented in the following Tables:
1.
B.
111.
Animal
a.
Coconut Crabs, Table 111
b.
Other animals, Table IV
2.
Plants, Table V
3.
Well water, Table VI
4.
Soil, air and house dust, Table VII
External Gamma Radiation, Table VIII
Analyses in Progress
Presently the following samples are being analyzed: urine - Wotje Atoll,
pooled sample; Bikini, pooled; and 8 individual samples; Ebeye, pooled;
Rongelap, pooled, 1 sample, and another from school children.
Also being
analyzed are several soil samples from Rongelap, animal samples (pig, chickens,
crabs from Rongelap and Bikini), and water from Bikini cisterns.
DISCUSSION
The body burdens of
137
(k and 90Sr of the people living on Bikini were
well below the ICRI?guidelines.
While the 137CS levels were only about 1/4