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Frelininary Repcri on Radionuclide Levels i n Samples fron Eneu Island and the Eneu Test Plot, Eikini Atoll The abstracted programs and preliminary results described below were initiated and are continuing with support from the Division of Biomedical and Environmental Research, Department of Energy. The Eneu test plot was established i n August-September of 1977. The subsistence crops planted at this time were: banana, sweet potato, squash and watermelon. subsistence crops, coconuts are now plentiful on the trees planted on Pandanus, breadfruit, papaya, In addition t o these In August and November o f 1977, coconuts were collected f o r analysis from a number of trees along with associated soil samples. The preliminary results for 137Cs concentrations i n In November of 1977, the squash i n the test garden were available f o hese samples a r e attached. Data for ons will not be available before and ,watermelon planted during August sampling. The collections have been processed and are presently being analyzed for specific radionuclides. 197Cs concentration data should be available f o r these samples this summer and t h e 90Sr, 2 3 9 + 2 4 0 A m concentration data will hopefully be available The breadfruit and Pandanus f r u i t were planted as root stock and will blhen the test garden was started i nnot produce fruit for several years.
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August 1977, however, three breadfruit trees (10-15 feet in height) were transplanted t o Eneu from Bikini Islands. will be available t o sample soon. our May 1978 trip to Gikini Atoll. I f these trees survive, breadfruit We will confirm this possibility during The concentration o f 137Cs i n Eneu coconut (data attached) i s higher than predicted using the limited data bank from Enewetak and is higher than the concentrations used i n the dose assessment of Bikini Atoll (Dose results from both Bikini and Eneu Islands will be available i n the near future. \le will then reassess the concentration d a t a , the concentration ratio data and the resulting dose predictions for Eneu Island. These recent data are preliminary and additional The results of our radiochemical analyses o f ground and cistern water from Bikini and Eneu Islands collected in 1975 have been published (Noshkin, Robison, Wong and Eagle, "Evaluation of the Radiological Quality of the Water on Bikini and Eneu Islands i n 1975" UCRL 51879 Part4). water from the wells and cisterns at Bikini '2nd Eneu Islands has been resampl ed for analyses twice duri ng 1977. Our avai 1 ab1 e radionucl ide concentration data for Eneu ground and cistern water i s shown i n the attached i n the water, during November 1 9 7 7 , coliform bacteria counts were measured i n the water from several cisterns and groundwater sites. this latter analyses and recommendations were submitted t o Dr. k'illiam &rrr In addition to continuing our assessment of radionuclide concentrations The results of of DBER i n December 197.7 (see letter attached).
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Eneu Island during January 1977. low sal in j ties and isof acceptable chemical quality but 90Sr concentrations a t FWR 5 exceeds the recommended EPA guide1 ine of 8 pCi/lThe groundwater a t these locations has main skimming well supplying groundwater f o r use on Eneu a t the present time. The groundwater from this well is chemically acceptab efor household and water, however, have been variable since 1975 and dur ng January 1977, the 90Sr concentration was found t o exceed the recommended EPA guideline of not appear t o change systematical ly. 6/75 and 1/77, while 90Sr and 2 3 9 + 2 4 0 P u concentrations increased. 1/77 and 11/77, both 137Cs aqd 239 + 240Pu essentially doubled i n concentration. We are attempting to correlate these changes i n concentration with fresh water recharge from rainfall, groundwater residence times and other hydrological The radionuclide concentrations i n the groundwater a t FWR 4 do 137Cs concentrations decreased between The two cisterns attached t o the old me-ss hall are presently the only The water i naboveground storage facilities for rainwater on Eneu Island. the cisterns is, of course, chemically acceptable for drinking and contains levels of437Cs and 90Sr lower than cisterns water samples collected from Bikini Island. The 9*Sr concentration i n the Eneu cistern water is similar t o the average levels reported for New York tap water (0.30 pCi/l) during 1977 (Environmental Measurements Laboratory Report, EML-339, April 1978).
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Consumption o f the cistern water would result in lower 10, 30, 50 and 70 year integral doses than those computed for the consumption of Bikini ci-stern water i n UCRL-57879, Part 5. The average concentrations i n the water atFWR4 will result in a slightly lower dose from 137Cs and 2,39'240Pu and a higher 90Sr dose than computed f o r consumption of Bikini Island cistern water i n UCRL-51879 Part 5. A number o f the reef fish, mullet, were collected for radionuclide analysis from six different islands of Bikini Atoll, including Eneu, during 1977. Concentrations of specific radionuclides have been determined i n the fish flesh, bones, skin, viscera, reproductive organs, gills and stomach exposure t o individuals from ingestion of marine foods. have 6igher 137Cs levels associated with muscle t i s s u e than average values found for Enewetak Atoll fish. The mean 6oCo levels i n muscle tissue of The radionuclide concentrations are used t o compute the radiological Mullet from Bikini fish from both Atolls i s similar and the highest concentrations are associated with reproductive organs. from Bikini differ frcm those a t Enewetak but the average concentration Plutonium concentrations i n mullet factor for plutonium in fish muscle i s similar at both Atolls. concentrations of specific radionuclides i n mu1 let tissue vary greatly from island t o island within the Atoll a n d the radionuclide concentrations i n the fish caught off Eneu fall between the lowest and highest values detected i n mullet at Bikini Atoll. Updated doses from consumption. of marine foods Environmental Sciences Division Env ir on w nt a1 Sciences Divisi on
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Mean lJ7Cs Coconut Concentration Ratio Concent ra t i on Rat i o Coconut Tree Meat Concentration Coconut Meat ’ Coco Milk C i / wet Coco Meat 1Mean 13’Cs Concentration Ratio Coco Meat = 5.8 (FCi/: dry s o i l
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