76
Statement to "Preliminary Report, ‘Rongelap Reassessment Project", April ¥5, 1988
April 15, 1988
page 4 of 4
I do not claim that my estimate represents the "true" dose.
Neitherfis this the
case with Kohn’s estimate. My estimate shows that the plutonium doses [might be in
qstablish the
a region where DOE dose limits are exceeded. We will not be able to
“true” dose without a detailed analysis of existing urine data and
a further
systematic monitoring.
to distort
The above dealt with the average doses.
The use of averages ten
the implication of radiation to real human beings. There will always be members in
the population which receive more than the average.
Even if the
could be kept below the DOE limit of 0.17 rem ®€ per year (5 rem in
segment of the population could receive doses above DOE level of 0.5 ren]
per year.
Would other dose limits be exceeded?
Would the radioactivity levels on Rongelap be caused from operation bf a nuclear
facility, the exposure would be too high’
since it exceeds the annual dpbse limit [40
CFR 190] for the maximum exposed member of the public with 0.025 r@m per year
(0.75 rem in 30 years).
We will have some explanation to do to the people of Rongelap wh
the doses
they would receive are legal because they come from a nuclear weaponsitest fallout,
whereas they would be illegal if caused by the operation of a nuclear
Current dose limits are likely to be revised in the near future.
Radiological Protection Board in Great Britain, for example, has recently}Jlowered the
allowable doses to most highly exposed members of the public from to P.05 millirem
per year. What is an allowable dose today might soon become too high.
Levels of cesium-137 in a part of coconuts, pandanus, and arrow
t harvested
' on Rongelap Island are exceeding limits for import into the U.S. which fis currently
at 10,000 pCi/kilogram.
If the food is declared unsafe for the American] people, how
do we convince the Rongelap people that it is safe?
What is needed?
ar a
First, we need to determine what the true extent of the plutonium
the Rongelap population.
An extensive program of urine sampling,
interpretation is needed.
the whole
7
be conducted to measure radioactivity
ee OR Sh
-
Second, a program should
atoll and to assess radiation exposures.
Third, measures should be taken that radiation doses from residence fon Rongelap
Island and food gathering on other islands in the atoll be kept as lowfas possible.
Soil decontamination should take place on Rongelap Island as well as on fhe Northern
measures
.
'
islands.
Special
Plutonium.
Fee ey
t
Bernd
Pronk
might
have ;be
)
developed
to
reduce
thd
uptake
of