Marshall Islands Are Becoming Less Nuclear

A recent study shows that the Marshall Islands, which became the testing ground for the nuclear bomb, has become less radioactive.

The study was printed in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers computed the gamma radiation, which is the electromagnetic radiation from nuclear fallout that is linked to cancer and developmental delays, on the six of the more than 1,000 islands in the republic where the nuclear test happened.

They discovered that on five out of the six islands the measurement of the gamma radiation levels was below 100 millirems yearly. The amount is just below the safe threshold habitation and a fraction of approximately of 310 millirems of radiation the average American is exposed yearly to natural sources.

Meanwhile, the Bikini Island is the only one in the six islands that is to be above safe levels for human habitation. It obtains 184 millirems per year. On the other hand, it was not much higher than those at a control island or in New York's Central Park, which obtains about 100 millirems of gamma ray radiation per year.

So, is it time for the island residents to go home since the islands become less radioactive? The authors of the study said that they are not sure if the islands are safe for habitation. The study is just a hint of hope for reaching a more normal post-nuclear life.

The Marshall Islands considered island countries that are situated near the equator in the Pacific Ocean. The United States 67 nuclear weapons at its Pacific proving Grounds in the Marshall Islands. This includes the largest atmospheric nuclear test with codenamed Castle Bravo. The Marshall islands were then regarded the most contaminated place in the world in 1956. This is because of exposure of the radioactive from the nuclear test. From 1956 to 1998, The Marshallese islanders were paid amounting to $759 million because of their exposure to U.S. nuclear weapon testing.