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RADIOACTIVITY IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC REGION
M. P. Bacon
Woods Hole Oceanographic Inslitution
Woods Hole, MA 02541, U. S. A.
G. Lambert
Centre des Faibles Radioactivit6s
CNRS, B. P. l, 91190 Gif -sur-yvette, France
T. A. Refter
15 Simla Crescent, Khandallah, Wellington, New Zealand
J. I. Samieoni
Fiji School of Medicine
Suva, Fiji
D. J. Steveng
l0 Lyric Grove, Camberwell, Victoria )124, Australia
ABSTRACT
This paper summanizes the main conclusions of the Report of the South
Pacifie Regional Environment Programme Technical Group on Radioactivity in the
South Pacific Region, of which lhe authors are members. It reviews ionizing
radiations and their possible harmful effects, and evaluates exposures to ionizin!
radiation in the South Pacific region. It then discusses prescnt and proposed
aetivities involving radioaclive materials in the region, particularly ocean dunping
of radioactive materials and nuclear weapons lests.
Introduction
In November 1982 the Technical Group on Radioactivity in the South pacifie Region
was formed and assigned the task of reviewing radioactivity and its regional impact. ine
project was nptivated largely by the concern expressed in the region- over existing and
proposed ectivities that might telease redioactive materials to the environnent. Of particular
concern ere the nucleer. explosions presently being conducted in Polynesia and proposals to
use the Pecific Ocean. in strategies for radioactive waste menagernent. Formation of tlre
technicel gnoup took place following the Conferenee on the Human Environnent in the South
Pacific (Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 8-ll March 1982), where concern was expressed over these
iseues. The subject of radioactivity was given high priority in the Action plan for the South
Pacific Regional Envinonnpnt program (SpREp,-l9g2). The pur?ose of this paper is to
anmmarize the work of the Technical Group and the rnain conclr.nions of the Tecirnical group
Report (SPREP, f98l).
The Technical Gmup held ite first meeting al the headquarters of the South pacific
Commiseion in Noumea, New Caledmia, L7-2L January 1981. .At that tirne an interim report
was Prepered in the form of a working outline, *frich was distributed to governrrnnts in
February for comment. A second end finat neeling was held at Nounca, 4-9 5uly l9g1, with
the a.rpport of the SPREP secretariat. A draft report wes completed at that time and wes
distributed for comment to the SPREP Co-ordinating group and to outside reviewem in the
gcientific community. The finel report (SPREP, l98l) was completed in December.