THE NORTHERN MARSHALL ISLANDS RADIOLOGICAL SURVEY: SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS SUMMARY
ABSTRACT
A radiological survey was conducted in the Northern Marshall Islands to
document remaining external
gamma exposures
from nuclear
tests
conducted
at
Enewetak and Bikini Atolls.
An additional program was later included to obtain -
terrestrial and marine samples for radiological dose assessment for current or
potential atoll inhabitants.
This report
terrestrial
is
the
and marine
first of a
surveys.
series
Here we
summarizing the results
discuss
the
sample
from the
collection and
processing procedures and the general survey methodology as well as present a
summary of the collected samples and radionuclide analyses.
In other reports
we will address the radionuclide concentrations in cistern water, groundwater,
" marine species,
pathways;
soil,
plants,
and
animals and
the estimated doses via
the analytical methods and quality control program;
and the estimated dose from all
the exposure pathways
these
the data bank;
for each atoll
(i.e.,
external gamma, marine, drinking water, terrestrial, and inhalation).
Over
5400
samples
were
collected
from
the
12
atolls
and
2
islands
and
prepared for analysis including 3093 soil, 961 vegetation, 153 animal, 965 fish
composite samples (average of 30 fish per sample),
101 clam, 50 lagoon water,
15 cistern water, 17 groundwater, and 85 lagoon sediment samples.
A complete
breakdown by sample type, atoll, and island is given here.
The total number
of analyses by radionuclide are
8840 for
241an,
6569
for }3%cs, 4535 for 739*24%py, 4431 for sr, 1146 for 7>8pu, 269 for 7*!pu,
and
114
each
for
239
Pu
and
240
Pu.
A complete
breakdown
by
sample
category,
atoll or island, and radionuclide is also included.
INTRODUCTION
A radiological
survey was conducted
from
September
through
Noventber
of
1978 at 12 atolls and 2 islands in the Northern Marshall Islands selected by
the Department of Energy (DOE).
The primary purpose was to document remaining
external gamma exposures for those atolls that may have received fallout from
nuclear tests conducted at
Enewetak and
Bikini
Atolls.
In the
latter
stages