Dose assessment activities in the Republic of the Marshall Islands

Journal Article · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Health Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199610000-00003· OSTI ID:390955

Simon, S L; Graham, J C ^[1]

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1. Nationwide Radiological Study, Majuro (Midway Islands)

Dose assessments, both retrospective and prospective, comprise one important function of a radiological study commissioned by the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) government in late 1989. Estimating past or future exposure requires the synthesis of information from historical data, results from a recently completed field monitoring program, laboratory measurements, and some experimental studies. Most of the activities in the RMI to date have emphasized a pragmatic rather than theoretical approach. In particular, most of the recent effort has been expended on conducting an independent radiological monitoring program to determine the degree of deposition and the geographical extent of weapons test fallout over the nation. Contamination levels on 70% of the land mass of the Marshall Islands were unknown prior to 1994. The environmental radioactivity data play an integral role in both retrospective and prospective assessments. One recent use of dose assessment has been to interpret environmental measurements of radioactivity into annual doses that might be expected at every atoll. A second use for dose assessment has been to determine compliance with dose action level for the rehabitation of Rongelap Island. Careful examination of exposure pathways relevant to the island lifestyle has been necessary to accommodate these purposes. Finally, an examination is underway of gummed film, fixed-instrument, and aerial survey data accumulated during the 1950`s by the Health and Safety Laboratory of the U.S. AEC. This article gives an overview of these many different activities and a summary of recent dose assessments.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 390955
• Journal Information: Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 71; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
CESIUM 137
CONTAMINATION
DISEASES
DRINKING WATER
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FALLOUT
FOOD CHAINS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
INGESTION
MARSHALL ISLANDS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
PLUTONIUM
RADIATION DOSES
THYROID