No controversy over IAEA Marshalls' report

By Giff Johnson

IN contrast to strong objections in the region to a recent International Atomic Energy Agency study reporting no hazards from the French nuclear tests at Moruroa, an lAEA-sponsored study of Bikini Atoll isn’t even raising any eyebrows in the Marshall Islands.

A scientific panel, convened by the lAEA, gave a stamp of approval to an early June report containing data and analysis by the US Department of Energy at Bikini Atoll. US pronouncements about the safety of the former nuclear test site at Bikini have frequently come under fire from Bikini islanders seeking to understand the hazards of moving back after more than 50 years in exile. However, in this case, Bikini officials aren’t finding fault in a study that confirms DOE work and predictions about Bikini - including that with remedial work, Bikini can be safely re-inhabited.

“This report just confirms what every other scientist has told us for the last sever al years,” said Jack Niedenthal, the Bikini

Council’s trust liaison agent. After DOE scientists began issuing their findings a few years ago, the Bikinians’ independent sci entist reviewed the data and agreed with nearly all the findings. Panels, funded by the US Congress and National Academy of Science, have also essentially agreed with the recent DOE findings that conclude that a cleanup at Bikini is “very doable” and the atoll can be safely re-populated. Bikini leaders and the late President Amata Kabua had asked the lAEA to check DOE data to provide additional assurances to Bikini islanders considering moving back to the former nuclear test site. lAEA officials travelled to Bikini in May 1997 to take

independent samples for analysis. “No fur

ther independent corroboration of the mea surements and assessments of the radiolog ical conditions at Bikini Atoll is necessary,” the lAEA report released in June said.

The lAEA commented on the “excellent quality control of those (earlier) measure ments and assessments,” and the regular comparison of results among different sci entific groups doing investigations at Bikini. The reports repeat an earlier con

elusion that, “provided certain remedial measures are taken, Bikini Island could be permanently re-inhabited.” The lAEA said that the preferred rehabilitation approach is to periodically use potassium fertiliser in all areas of Bikini Island where edible crops can be grown. This is supported by removal of soil from around and beneath housing areas and its replacement by crushed coral. Studies show that the fer tiliser application works for four-to-five years and needs repeating.

The lAEA report recommends that reg ular testing of radioactivity in local food at Bikini be done to see how effective is the cleanup program undertaken. “A simple, local whole body monitor and training in its use should be provided as a further means of enabling potential inhabitants to satisfy themselves there is no significant uptake of cesium into their bodies,” the lAEA said.

The Bikinians have already established a radiation laboratory with the help of the lAEA on Bikini to provide on-site monitor ing of radiological conditions as the cleanup program gets into gear. ■