EXTERNAL DOSE ESTIMATES FOR FUTURE
BIKINI ATOLL INHABITANTS
Abstract
To evaluate the potential
These data,
in conjunction with
radiation doses that may be received
population statistics and expected
by the returning Bikinians, we sur-~
life styles,
veyed the residual radioactivity on
the potential external gamma-ray
Bikini and Eneu Islands in June of
doses associated with proposed housing
1975.
locations along the lagoon road and
An integral part of the survey
allowed us to estimate
included measurements of gamma-ray
within the interior portions of
exposure rates which are used to
Bikini Island as well as along the
estimate external gamma-ray doses.
lagoon side of Eneu Island. As
The survey showed that on Bikini
expected, living on Eneu Island
Island the rates are highly variable;
results in the lowest doses:
values near the shores’ are generally
rem during the first year and 2.9 rem
of the order of 10 to 20 uR/h, while
during 30 years.
those within the interior average
values, 0.28 rem during the first
about 40 UR/h with a range of roughly
year and 5.9 rem over 30 years,
30 to 100 uR/h.
may potentially be received by
ever,
Eneu Island, how-
is characterized by more or
0.12
The highest
inhabitants living within the
less uniformly distributed gamma
interior of Bikini Island.
Other
radiation levels of less than 10 uR/h
options under consideration pro-
over the entire island.
duce intermediate values.
Introduction
Bikini Atoll was one of
U.S.
the
nuclear weapons testing sites
in the Pacific.
Tt is situated
in the northern part of Micronesia
coral reef surrounding a lagoon
with major and minor axes having
dimensions of 35 and 27 km,
respec-
in the Central Pacific Ocean
tively (fig. 1).
The total land
.
2
area is about 6 km”, and the land
about 3600 km southwest of Honolulu.
height generally averages 3
The atoll consists of a number
above mean sea level.
of small islands on an elliptical
vary in size from smal] sandbars of
to 5m
The islands