A Comparison of Independently Conducted Dose Assessments to Determine Compliance and Resettlement Options for the People of Rongelap Atoll

Abstract

Rongelap Island was the home of Marshallese people numbering less than 120 in 1954; 67 were on the island and severely exposed to radioactive fallout from an atomic weapons test in March of that year. Those resident on Rongelap were evacuated 50 h after the test, returned 3 y later, then voluntarily left their home island in 1985 due to their ongoing fear of radiation exposure from residual radioactive contamination. Following international negotiations in 1991, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed in early 1992 between the Republic of the Marshall Islands Government, the Rongelap Atoll Local Government, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department of the Interior. In this MOU it was agreed that the Republic of the Marshall Islands, with the aid of the U.S. Department of Energy, would carry out independent dose assessments for the purpose of assisting and advising the Rongelap community on radiological issues related to a safe resettlement of Rongelap. The MOU enacted two action levels which were agreed to be used to establish whether mitigation should be considered as a condition for resettlement of Rongelap Island: (1) no individual should receive an annual dose in the future of 1 mSv or more, above that from natural background radiation, assuming that his/her diet consists of only locally produced foods, and (2) the total surface soil concentration of plutonium and other transuranic elements must be less than 629 Bq kg(-1) (averaged over the top 5 cm). Environmental radiological data and dietary information were collected over two years (1992-1993) for the purpose of predicting future potential doses to Rongelapese who might resettle. In 1994, four independent assessments were reported, including one from each of the following entities: Marshall Islands Nationwide Radiological Study; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; an independent advisor from the United Kingdom (MCT); and a committee of the National Research Council. All four assessments concluded that possibly more than 25% of the adult population could exceed the 1 mSv y(-1) dose level based on strict utilization of a local food diet. The purpose of this report is to summarize the methodology, assumptions, and findings from each of four assessments; to summarize the recommendations related to mitigation and resettlement options; to discuss unique programmatic aspects of the study; and to consider the implications of the findings to the future of the Rongelap people.

Effect of US Health Policies on Health Care Access for Marshallese Migrants

“…40,41 The Atomic Energy Commission lists the Republic of the Marshall Islands as one of the most contaminated places in the world, 10 and several studies confirmed ongoing health effects from the nuclear testing. 11–18,23,24,26,28–31,35,38,42–51 …”

Design of a randomized, controlled, comparative-effectiveness trial testing a Family Model of Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) vs. Standard DSME for Marshallese in the United States

“…People who inhabited the bombed islands and atolls were relocated. However, Marshallese living on nearby atolls were not relocated and experienced nuclear fallout [35] , [36] , [37] , [38] , [39] , [40] , [41] , [42] , [43] , [44] . They subsequently consumed contaminated water, plants, and seafood [31] , [32] , [45] , [46] .…”

Background gamma radiation and soil activity measurements in the northern Marshall Islands

“…The Rongelapese population was exposed to radiation fallout several hours after the Bravo test in 1954 (9, 12, 13). The population was relocated 3 d after the Bravo test, only to return to Rongelap 3 y later, in 1957 (9, 12, 13). The people were subsequently evacuated from Rongelap by Greenpeace in 1985 and moved to Mejato Island, where most have been living ever since (13).…”

“…During the decades since the end of the testing in the Marshall Islands, the Atomic Energy Commission, and later the Department of Energy, carried on numerous programs and conducted dozens of studies to ascertain the radiological conditions on the islands, as well as their effect on the health of the exposed populations (4, 7, 12–20). Although individual scientists have been praised for their contributions and dedication to this work, there is a basic lack of trust in and understanding of the results on the part of the Marshallese communities.…”