measured in kilo electron volts, or kev.
On Rongelap there were found three
major “energy regions," of 100, 700, and 1500 kev.
That is, within the
Fallout on the ground there were particles which were being emitted in these
three general regions (levels) of strength.
Fallout Samples
A third source of information upon which would be based whole-body doses,
was actual fallout material.
By studying the radioactive calcium oxide
(incinerated coral) scientists determined the mixture of different radioactive
elements and their energies.
However,
it is interesting to note that the
doses calculated for all the exposed persons, according to the 1956 report by
the AEC,
''came from fallout samples
taken soon after the detonation at points
some distance from the contaminated atolls.’
(p.6)
Why the samples were not
collected from the islands on which the people were exposed was not explained.
One of the important factors in calculating the amount of radiation
exposure
is
the
length of
could be estimated was
estimates of
time of
The only way this
and personal eyewitness
time.
fallout was about
information,
itself.
from the reading on Rongerik,
Based on the early and
period of
the fallout
it appeared
later readings at Rongerik,
16 hours,
or,
a long fallout.
However,
including reports of persons who saw the fallout,
it was shorter than 16 hours and
that
it ended early.
A
long
that
the
other
indicated that
fallout
also
it was concluded that whether
conflicted with readings taken later.
Finally,
or not the fallout was long, or short,
the result would be nearly the same,
since
in a short
length of
time as
fallout,
the heavier material would descend during the same
it would during a
long fallout.
95
[O14 102
tn other words,
the heavrest