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Posted: Friday, March 30th, 2007 5:16 AM HST

Federal study says Ordnance Reef munitions not health threat

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) _ Researchers studying thousands of munitions the military dumped off the Waianae Coast about 60 years ago issued a report saying the weapons don't threaten people. The scientists found weapons ranging from small arms munitions to large caliber projectiles and naval gun ammunition in the so-called Ordnance Reef area about three miles off the coast. Michael Overfield is a marine archaeologist and the chief scientist for the Pentagon-commisioned study carried out by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He says the researchers don't see any immediate threat to human health from the weapons. But Waianae harbor master William Aila criticized the study's analysis. He says the researchers took samples from ground-up fish parts. He says researches would have gotten a more accurate reading if they had taken samples directly from fish organs. He says he'll push for a more thorough report. (Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved)