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REPORT OF THE AD HOC COXHITTEE TO EVALUATE THE RADIOLOGICAL HAZARE?WRES~LE~NENTOF THE BIKINI ATOLL b The Committee was convened to consider the question of whether the Bikini A tolli a safe for human habitation with respect to the radiological hazard. the various relocation s of the Bikini natives is described in the appended material provided by Mr. Tobin (Appendix I)*, The detailed history of W e have examined the documents listed in Appendix 11. I n * addition, we spent one and one-half days in detailed discuss ions with members of the 1967Bikini Survey Team and other ' -experts as shown i n Appandlx III. On the basis of the in for - mation provided, we have reached the following conclusions 1. The exposures to radiation that would result from the repatriation of the Bikini people do not offer a sign if i can k threat to their health and 2 . Such exposure may and should be further reduced the following simple measures : Restrict rehabilitation for the present to t h e islands of the Bikini-Eneu complex. ' Establish the first village and immediate food crops on Eneu, No radiological pre c au - tions will be needed on Eneu because of its very low cont wi nation level. (Appendix V) Any village construction on Bikini Island should involve the covering of the site with coral rock as i s the local custom. Radioactive scrap metal should b e removed from the islands adjacent t o fonner shot sites. The population or' Pnnd crabs should be sharply reduced becauaa of their high content of - I f pandanus trees which produce edible fruit are planted on Bikini Island,two inches of topsoil should be removed from the planting sites. T b area of! removal from each site should be equal. to the area covered by the crown of mature treaa,
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3. Determinations should be made of body burdens of cesium 137 and strontium90atthe end of the first year of residence on the Atoll and as appropri ate thereafter.Baseline surveys prior to relocation would be desirable. Resurveys ofen - v iron mental radiation levels on the Bikini Atoll and estimates of radio nuclides in food should be made periodically. These surveys will provide a continual check of the radiation status of the people and environment and will help form a basis ' for decision as t o the time of re habitation of islands outside of the Bikini-Eneu complex. 4.Special efforts should be made to ensure a balanced and adequately nutritious diet. For example, a dietary supplement of powdered milk would mate - ri ally reduce strontium90uptake by relieving the calcium deficiency usually associated with their John C. Bugher, Del Ray Beach, Florida,formerly Director of * AEC ' s Division of Biology and Medicine, now retired. Robert A . Conard, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, Charles L. Dunham, Chairman, Division of Medical Sciences of the National Research Council,National Academy of Sciences, John H. Harley,Director,Health and Safety Laboratory, Atomic Energy Commission, New York City. S.Allan Loxgh, Assistant Director for Radiological Physics of AEC ' s ' Division of Biology and Medicine. John B. Storer, Deputy Director of AEC ' s Division of Biology Shi e les Warren, Scientific Director, Cancer Research Institute,Xew England Deaconess Hospital, Boston, Mass.
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*A limited number of copies of the appendices to the Committee report are available on request, They are: . Appendix I11 -. List of Members and Associates of the Appendix IV - Map of Bikini Atoll Appendix V - "Brief Summary of t h e Radiological Status
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