Northern Marshall Islands radiological survey: terrestrial food chain and total doses

Technical Report · Thu Sep 30 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6712352

Robison, W L; Mount, M E; Phillips, W A; Conrado, C A; Stuart, M L; Stoker, C E

A radiological survey was conducted from September through November of 1978 to assess the concentrations of persistent manmade radionuclides in the terrestrial and marine environments of 11 atolls and 2 islands in the Northern Marshall Islands. The survey consisted mainly of an aerial radiological reconnaissance to map the external gamma-ray exposure rates over the islands of each atoll. The logistical support for the entire survey was designed to accommodate this operation. As a secondary phase of the survey, shore parties collected appropriate terrestrial and marine samples to assess the radiological dose from pertinent food chains to those individuals residing on the atolls, who may in the future reside on some of the presently uninhabited atolls, or who collect food from these atolls. Over 5000 terrestrial and marine samples were collected for radionuclide analysis from 76 different islands. Soils, vegetation, indigenous animals, and cistern water and groundwater were collected from the islands. Reef and pelagic fish, clams, lagoon water, and sediments were obtained from the lagoons. The concentration data for /sup 90/Sr, /sup 137/Cs, /sup 238/Pu, /sup 239/ /sup 240/Pu, and /sup 241/Am in terrestrial food crops, fowl, and animals collected at the atolls or islands are summarized. An assessment of the total dose from the major exposure pathways including external gamma, terrestrial food chain including food products and drinking water, marine food chain, and inhalation is provided. Radiological doses at each atoll or island are calculated from the average radionuclide concentrations in the terrestrial foods, marine foods, etc. assuming the average daily intake for each food item.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6712352
• Report Number(s): UCRL-52853-Pt.4; ON: DE83003106
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510302 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Terrestrial Ecosystems & Food Chains-- (-1987)
520302* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Aquatic Ecosystems & Food Chains-- (-1987)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560171 -- Radiation Effects-- Nuclide Kinetics & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
AMERICIUM 241
AMERICIUM ISOTOPES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CESIUM 137
CESIUM ISOTOPES
COCONUTS
CROPS
DATA
DIET
DOSES
DRINKING WATER
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ECOSYSTEMS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FISHES
FOOD
FOOD CHAINS
FRUITS
GAMMA RADIATION
HEAVY NUCLEI
HUMAN POPULATIONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IONIZING RADIATIONS
ISLANDS
ISOTOPES
MARSHALL ISLANDS
MICRONESIA
MONITORING
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
OCEANIA
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM 238
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM 240
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
POPULATIONS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIATIONS
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIOISOTOPES
SEAWATER
STRONTIUM 90
STRONTIUM ISOTOPES
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
VERTEBRATES
WATER
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES