Radioactive fallout in the South Pacific: a history Part 2: radioactivity measurements in the Pacific islands

This report summarises results of the environmental radioactivity monitoring programme maintained in the Pacific islands by the National Radiation Laboratory (NRL) since 1961. Monitoring was commenced during the nuclear weapons tests at Christmas Island, then extended to a greater number of sites during the French atmospheric tests at Mururoa during 1966-1974 and maintained at that level until 1985 when the network was scaled down to its pres the monitoring of the French tests as the largest local source of short-lived fallout. These pacific monitoring operations during the period of 1960 to 1990 are reviewed which brings together and summarises the extensive compilation of data comprising 70 NRL report published during the period. An attempt is also made to correct the original data for decay between sampling and analysis. The average effective dose commitment for the South Pacific island population due to the entire history of atmospheric weapons tests is estimated to be 1.1 milli sievert.(author). 17 refs., 23 figs., tabs., ills