Dr. Hal Hollister July 29, 1977 s Page @ eating breadfruit and pendanus. to eat these food sources, The returnees were told not In addition, measurable traces of plutonium have been found in their urine. Based on these reports and others we have received it is apparent that attempts to communicate the risks of contamination have been unsuccessful. Yet, in the near future, returning natives will be formally provided with specific instruct. . tions and recommendaticns for avoiding "hot spots" and contaminated food sources. From our knowledge of the culture and life style of returnees we would predict that many of the recommendations won't be followed and further complicate the total rehabitation effort. Steps must be taken to monitor and assess the hehavioral response of returnees to safety recommendations. To accomplish this we would urge ERDA to take the initiative to sponsor a systematic assessment of the rehabitation process including a specific assessment of the behavioral patterns associated with adapting and coping with radiological levels. The assessment would emphasize the behavioral components of the response to safety standards and relationships with long-term adjustment over the next four years, the period of time set aside to complete the rehabitation process. Certain behavioral patterns are likely to emerge that are directly connected with the presence of radiation and knowledge of the thyroid problems experienced by natives at Rongelap and Utirik. In the course of planning and conducting the assessment, a number of substantive questions can be raised, as follows: l. What adjustments and accommodations will be made by relocatees in response to safety recommendations? To what extent will normal daily life styles be affected? 2. Can ERDA be assured that relocatees will fully comprehend the concept of radiation exposure and the intrinsic rationale for the imposttion of safety instructions and recommendations? 3. What sociocultural norms and sanctions, if any, will emerge that will prevent returnees from frequenting off~limit areas and eating con- taminated food? How will they be enforced?