DOSE ASSESSMENT AT BIKINI ATOLL Abstract Bikini Atoll is one of two sites in Six living patterns were evaluated. the northern Marshall Islands that was One was based on living and obtaining used by the United States as testing all subsistence crops from Bikini grounds for the nuclear weapons pro- Island, another on living on and ‘gram from 1946 to 1958. In 1969 a obtaining all subsistence crops from general cleanup began at Bikini Atoll. Eneu Island, Other patterns consisted Subsistence crops, coconut and Pandanus of various combinations of housing and fruit, were planted on Bikini and Eneu subsistence crops from’the two islands. Islands, and housing was constructed The terrestrial pathway contri- on Bikini Island. butes the greater percentage, ex- A second phase of housing was ternal gamma exposure contributes the next highest, and inhalation planned for the interior of Bikini ‘Island. and marine pathways contri- Preliminary data indicated that external gamma doses in the bute minor fractions of the interior of the island might be higher total whole body and bone marrow than in other parts of the island. doses. | The radionuclides contri- Therefore, to select a second site for buting the major fraction of housing on the island with minimimum the dose are "sr and +3’cs, external exposure, All living patterns involving a survey of Bikini Atoll was conducted in June 1975. Bikini Island exceed federal External gamma measurements were made guidelines for 30-yr population on Bikini and Eneu Islands, and soil doses. and vegetations samples collected to pattern leads to doses that are evaluate the potential doses via ter- slightly less than federal guide- restrial food chains and inhalation. lines. Estimates of potential dose via the for Bikini Atoll lead to higher marine food chain were based upon data doses than those on the southern The Eneu Island living All patterns evaluated collected on previous trips to the atoll. islands at Enewetak Atoll. Purpose of the 1975 Bikini Survey Bikini Atoll is one of two sites in the northern Marshall Islands that PF 50505 were used by the United States as testing grounds for the nuclear weapons -l]-