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UNITED STATES
ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
HEALTH AND SAFETY LABORATORY
376 HUDSON STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10014
April 14, 1977
James L. Liverman, Assistant Administrator for Environment
and Safety, HQ
TTG ANALYSIS OF BIKINI PLUTONIUM BURDEN
I think that TTG was most concerned that no one seemed to be looking at
all of the data from Bikini and that this might be helpful in estimating the
native body burden. I agree with both of these points and believe that
either a single lab or a group of 2 or 3 people should do a writeup on what
is known.
We would be happy to cooperate in any way you think that we
could be helpful.
Some of the problem has been in the HASL urine data where we were uncertain about the levels in U. S. residents subject only to fallout. We
appear to be confirming the lower numbers that we first found and these
agree quite well with values calculated from our best models.
This means
that the Bikini natives are either more highly exposed relative to the U. S.
or that their urine samples are contaminated. It is our opinion that obtaining 20 liter samples of urine from a native population is a largereffort
than could be justified by the value of deciding this question.
If ERDA is responsible for the health of the natives [ strongly feel that
their exposure to airborne plutonium is the major criterion. Four to six
continuous monitors run over a period of a year should give adequate data
to discharge our responsibility. It will probably be necessary to make
other measurements such as extemal gamma or dictary strontium-90, but
this is a separate problem. It should also be kept in mind that, while we
have a responsibility for monitoring the natives, this is a most difficult
laboratory to use for experiments.
I have expanded beyond your original question but I think the various
portions all have to fit together.
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