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received highest anount3 of fall ox t, the range of contanination is indicated 3y tl?e doses t h a t could hsvs been received over approximtely 48 hours without shielding. 2000 r; Rongelap, about 175 r: in con tr rst to Uterik Islmd t o tho nest of ii on p lap Atoll, 17 r. They =e: northern islmds i.0. Gejen zbout mere made during 1954-1955 t o evaluate initial hazmds t o llumms mi!, 3iing 1955-3956, to est ix te the probability o f long range ha zaP k. The finr'ings ir-"uczke 2 need for2 mole s ez ching am lysis of degrees of v sri ation an? concentrEtioa i n grouna T;:zter, Iwoon water, soil, p l ~ a k s2nd mixds and of the long rmAgeefi"ects of the 1954. fallout on p z rti cul mp z ts of the 3ongel.q enviromcnt 8 s it relates t o the nellThus, a subst mt i al stat 122s been xdeto doternine zp:)ro::iszbe de gees of: (1) initial fdl out, (2) retention of fallout in soil md bhoae used f o r human foo?. u;qt,?'.;e a d retention in lmd and aquatic plants and anixals in cl ding Velucble 'udqp*oun.! infoizx-bion on the ecology o f Tacific Idmd hb itz ts has 13ec.n p ovid ed by nunerous studies sponsored during recei1-k gens by tke Atonic Enerzj Co-aission,3 tbe Pccific Scieme Bomd, md. effects in ro lzt ion to possible czuses, trophic Levels, bioyeocheaicd cycles, a.2v Z Ti dion interns of confaxinstion m? resulting effects
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(1). The general problem falls within t h e scope of hu;lm ecology. E;rn i s tbc doalnmt mind. The t y p ,?nd degree of interaction betmen an2 his islad eilviromeat im.ieCictely becoraes an essen tid pmt of ?;.oblerti. Ard io active hazsd t o envirorment mzy result in m equzlly grezt o r grezttc: iiazsrc? t o its gorninmt mind. e n - ii rome n td contacts a d FepenZences at least tothe exlient of e ~ ali latin g t h potentid. hzsarc‘s froz rz6ioectiae contznination, These efyects of One esset from this in-Jesti--Aion rnqy li c in the provision of suf licien t ly mi21 c!eter&ne i n large memare tha degree t o xhich the results mEy q ? l y Current informstion on 1onprm;e effects of
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-b Usicc presur-.e&Pj nctive rets, measurenents c m be nade of qwxt5tzti-JelyI tothe rcLrj2oci:onIcd factors of the envirormext that These direct mezsurezents c m These finzirgs may have zpplicction i n co-qmrcble (5) The oft-qiiotec' vd-ues of sunshifie units over large are s h g on the cel cim content of the soil. fimc"tion o f vzr;in:j c~l-ciixicontent rf the soil. For exainple, it i s proposed The ect u al values vary considersbly dependIt is importmt, therefore, t o hizher czlcivn levels. ( 6 ) Preset thirmlzing on the 2esirEble overall scope o f the problen imcoiit mimic4 onvironnsnt for control purposes.
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(1) This proposal embodies a unified ecological approach t o the problem of living in a radioactive environment. Pacific Island life under definable conditions admitting the important It outlines a study of small area of the environment, the limited size of the population and the Because of the isolation factor, the existing data on radioactive exposure, this particular environment is uniquely adapted f o r overall evaluation of long term hazards from radioActivities of the first year should stress Objectives A and Bo . Included is a detailed survey of soil and vegetation types of Rongelap Island with accent on undisturbed, stable types and t h e i r respective fallout activities.In view of the nature of these types, it is postulated that significant amounts of nuclide concentration may be encountered i n certain types of habitat, The early sampling data provide a basis for is oh ting areas of special interest and for laying afirm foundation that will dictate, i n part, t h e scope and direction of long-range analyses and also t h e quadrat sites for establishing field experiments for studies of effects, biogeochemical cycles and standing crop-productivity ratios, would probably be set up a t least, by the latter part of the first year, During t h e first si;, months, emphasis would be given t o microradio-chemical methods of analysis and field methods for analysis of environmental changes and radiation effects. A t present, it is difficult to estimate realistically the personnel needs for the radiochemical assayso I n general, the assumptions
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made are conservative both with respect t o special equipnent and personnel. Through our cooperative arrangements with the University of California and Stanford University, it is intended t o encourage participation by graduate students i n both field and laboratory phases of the problem. The anticipated low level of sample activity results ina requirement f o r high efficiency counting systems. geometry, low background beta counters and a two o r three inch gamma well scintillation counter have been included i n present estimates. The single channel gamma pulse height analyzer will be used primarily f o r identification of nuclides; to a lesser extent, it will assist inthe quantitative determinations of nuclides present. It is for this reason that high Two auto m tic sample changers and three automatic absorber changers are required t o process the large number of samples anticipated. The availability of automatic absorber and sample changers (with self-recording readout) will result i n more efficient use It is estimated, on the basis of past resurvey samples (low specific radioactivity and, frequently, high calcium mtrix) and present techniques, that a radiochemist will be able to prepare a Sample and t o carry out four to five nuclide analyses per day (including computation of type of determination. emphasis on routine procedures, and acquisition of t h e automatic instruments, this average number of determinations could possibly be increased t o six be five nuclide analyses/man/day o r twenty-five analyses/Ioan/week. If it is presumed that an average of about two nuclide analyses will be requested Of course, this number w i l l vary, depending upon sample and With large numbers of similar specimens, a greater A t the present time, t h e most reasonable estimate would probably
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on each sample, one investigator would process approximately fifteen samples each week. t o analyze the anticipated fifty samples/week. Thus, a total of a t least three men will be necessary (2) eec uti on of the proposal requires: (a) high levels of competence in the fields of radiochemistry, instrumentation, microbiology, and bioecology, (b) chemical, and ecological laboratory facilities on Rongelap (c) fluid travel arrangements t o permit movements throughout the general field area at irregular times. (d) the following staff i n addition t o the senior project I Bioecologist, plus one assistant in the field, Soil Microbiologist plus one assistant in the field. Radiochemist plus one assistant at NRDL. An add it i oral assistant in each of the three aforementioned (e) one part time consultant, ( f ) additional taxonomic services on a limited basis. A limited number of major items of standard equipment f o r Spec id recording instruments for environmental measurements t o be designed and built in the instrument shop a t NRDL
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(5) Adequate living quarters on Rongelap Island for a minimum of about five persons. (6) Laboratory room and equip ent on Rongelap, the costs of which V are not included i n the estimates of this proposal, (7) Secretarial assistance a t NRDL and publication funds when netded.
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1. Internal Radioactive Contamination of Human Beings Accidentally Exposed t o Radioactive Fallout Material. 2. Nature ana Extent of Internal Radioactive Contamination of Kurr.an Beings, ?lants and Animals Bposed t o Fallout - Project 4.1 Addendum Residual Contamination of Plants, Animals, S o i l and Water of the3. Marshall Islands One Year following Operation CASTLE Fallout - Xesidual Contaiiination of Plants, Aninds, Soil and ;later of the4. Mush all Islands Two Years followirg Op ration CfLs U Fallout, - 5. Intern il Deposition of Radionuclides i n Hurr,an Beings and Aninds. Ch, 5 i n Sone Zffects of Ionizing Radiation on Hman Beings, July, 1956; TI3 5352; S. H. Coho, et. d e Bioiogicd. Concentration of $0-60 i n Killer Clans 2s %ri.-v?C 2 o m
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SU??MARY OF TIME REQUIREMENTS Travel and per diem Allowance o r pay differential 15 9 000 Miscellaneous equipment and Special recording instruments 20,000 Packing and shipping