5

Until there is more substantial evidence than we have now on
the impact of importation
of food on use of locallv available
.
food, the levels of the important foods such as pa~danus,
breadfruit, an? coconut and its products in the “no imports”
diet for the high range estimates should not be reduced by
more than a factor of two in devising a diet that contains
50% imported food. Even this may be too much reduction to be
able to claim that the doses for the case of use of imported
food are conservatively predicted.
It would seem contrary
to nature for imported foods to selectively reduce intake of
local foods that give the highest radioactivity levels, compared to those giving Lower intakes. Further, it would be
the first discovery of some phenomenon that makes resettlement
within standards easier and not more difficult.
I urge that until we have better information on the range of
dietary intakes by various groups within a returned population, and on various individuals within such groups, that
doses for population groups be multiplied by 5 to obtain doses
to the highest individuals in the population.
This would
help keep the highest doses received in the future from being
such a surprise if people return too soon to Eneu, Bikini, or
Enjebi Islands.
I agree with the draft that further dietary studies are needed,
but not that we should rely solely on the MLS diet or on Naidu’s
diet for predicting doses at Bikini and Enewetak Atolls at this
time.

Tommy l?!McCraw,
Office of Health and
Environmental Research

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