International teams of scientists will be collecting terrestrial and marine samples at the Pacific atolls of Mururoa and Fangataufa for about one month starting in early July in the context of the radiological study requested from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by the Government of France. Teams will visit the atolls in relays, to collect samples including plankton, fish, seawater, lagoon sediment, coral, soil, coconuts and vegetation.
The samples will be shared subsequently for analysis with a grid of laboratories worldwide, including the Pacific region. Results will be forwarded to the International Atomic Energy (IAEA) in Vienna, whose own laboratories in Seibersdorf, Austria and in Monaco will also be participating both in the sample-taking and the analytical work. Data from French studies already undertaken will be available for comparative purposes in the scientific work to determine the radiological situation at the atolls. This part of the overall study is expected to take up to six months to complete.
Separately, geological specialists will be examining the situation regarding possible future scenarios, including the very long-term, using modelling techniques taking as their starting point inter alia the geological characteristics of the atolls, experience gained at other nuclear test sites, and information provided by the French authorities regarding their own series of tests. The results of this work will then be consolidated with the other part of the study and be made publicly available. The estimated date of publication of the complete, final report is early 1998.
The study is being conducted under the guidance and direction of an International Advisory Committee of distinguished scientists from ten countries, chaired by Dr. E. Gail de Planque of the United States, and including ex officio representatives of the South Pacific Forum, the UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, the World Health Organization and the European Commission. The Committee itself intends to visit French Polynesia at a later date, at which time a press conference is foreseen.
Note: For practical reasons it will not be possible for print or electronic media to cover the scientific field work. However, an IAEA film crew will be present to shoot footage which can be obtained, with descriptive material, on request from the IAEA as of the end of July (tel. in Vienna 43-1-206021276 or fax 43-1-206029616).