Samole Coilection
A list of participants in the May 1979 whole-body counting and urine collection program was reviewed with the intent of idencifying adult women who were
currently lactating.
Of the population participating in this program,
four fe-
males were identified as potentially capable of providing the required samples.
Whole-body counting results, urine activity concentrations and residence intervals on Bikini Atoll for these individuals are Listed in Table 1.
Three of the
wg
.
.
.
137
:
_:
adult females were long term residents with residual
Cs body burdens, while
see
.
es
.
.
137
-,
one individual (No. 6187) was identified as having a baseline
Cs body burden.
.
.
137
.
.
.
.
.
The sample population had been exposed to
Cs in their dieec during their
residence at Bikini Atoll from as early as 1970 up to August 1978.
they nad been relocated from Bikini Atoll for more than 250 days.
137
Bv May 1979,
Residual
woe
.
os
Cs body burdens thus represented activity associated with the long term retan-
tion compartment of the body.
Although several former Bikini residents have
periodically returned to Bikini Island after August 1978, the adult females who
participated in the milk sample program had not returned to or eaten food from
Bikini Atoll prior to the May sample dates.
Consequently, it has been assumed
:
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.
+
ae
137,
.
.
.
that the diet did noe include significant
Cs contaminated food products during their residence on Majuro Atoll.
The selected individuals were requested to report to a female research associate who was responsible for sample collection.
Samples were obtained by
either hand expression into a sample container or through the use of a mechanical Sreast pump.
The mechanical pump was thoroughly cleaned after each use to
minimize cross contamination of the samples.
Once collected, samples were
stored in polyethylene bottles which were pretreated with 7.5 ml of 10% thymol
solution and then refrigerated until analysis.