A sinale soil samole from Bokdrolul showed approximately 85% !37Cs
and 15% °“Co,
No edibie clants yere found on any of these islands.
Since =e maximum exposure rate found for this group was 50 uR/hr,
the exocsure rate reductions were not vrojected.
CHARLIE (NAM)
As indicated by Figure 14, the external radiation levels on Nam, located
in the northwest corner of the atoll, are slightly higher than those on
Bikini with one "hot spot" of 500 ,,R/hr found near the northwest side
of the island.
A single soil sample taken in a background area of
approximately 200 yR/hr showed the concentration of gamma emitting
nuclides to be composed of about 50% 137Cs, 33% ©°Co, and 17% 125sp_
The exposure rate reduction as a function of time for this composition
is given in Figure 15.
Radioactive scrap was found at several locations on the island.
maximum reading obtained on any piece of scrap was 500 ,,R/hr.
The
All
radioactive scrap reading in excess of 100 y,R/hr (gamma) was buried
at sea.
Less radioactive material was buried on land with the non-
radioactive debris.
Although this is the third largest isiand and one which had been previously utilized as a source of food materials by the Bikinians,
there are at present no
edible land plants or coconut crabs on the
istand.
A sample of fresh water from Nam, taken in 1964 and supplied to WERL
by the Laboratory for Radiation Ecology, contained 15 pCi of 3H/ml.
Tritium levels in all other water samples from various islands were
less than 0.4 pCi/ml.
A sample from a Portulaca plant (high water content) taken in June 1969
contained 1.5 pCi of 2H/ml of extracted water.
The concentration of
137s in the plant material was 210 pCi/g and of 69Co was 3.8 pCi/g
wet weight.
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