The external dose received by the returned Bikinians will depend upon where various people are located, and for what periods of time, within the island complex. or children. Location in turn depends upon whether they are men, women, The returnees (see Age Distribution table) will probably consist of about equal numbers of men and women. to be spent in the four radiation domains The amount of time likely (village area, beach, interior, and lagoon) by the various groups within the population are shown in Table 1. Probably the most time will be spent in the village area, is intermediate between beach and interior levels. where the dose rate The dose rate may be reduced one half by covering the ground with an inch of clean sand or soil. This in essence will be done in the village area through the custom of covering the dirt floor and the yard with several inches of polished coral pebbles. The expected integral dose to the population over various time intervals starting in 1970 is shown in Table 2. fhe actual internal dose derived from eating native foods is somewhat more difficult to assess. (lL) As tenance limited, in the past, from the at the natives will doubtless lagoon and ocean. least at pandanus, etc. However, three points should be borne in mind. (3) first, (2) take much of their sus- Edible land plants will be severcly due to the sparcity of fruit-bearing coconut, The Bikinians have become accustomed to eating new foods, and will probably continue to eat such things as rice, flour, canned meat, and powdered milk. found in foodstuffs 1913961 The only radionuclides of biological collected at Bikini were 9055, 137¢5 and importance Sie, Other