the
islands
environment.
long
enough
to
reach
a
steady state with
137cs
in the
The time that the other pigs were on an island and free-roamir
is unknown; they may not have reached steady-state conditions and, thus, ma:
not have reached the maximum !3’cs concentration possible.
There are not many coconut crabs available.
Consequently, there will
either be a relatively higher intake for a short time or a very low intake
over an extended period of time if conservation of the species is practiced.
In either case, coconut crab will not add significantly to the dose.
The 13?cs concentration in one chicken sample collected prior to the
Bikini people's relocation frdém Bikini Atoll] in 1978 was 6.9 pCi/g wet
weight.
The chicken was allowed to wander at will
reflect 137cs concentrations in chicken meat.
and this value should
RADIONUCLIDES IN MARINE SPECIES
The radionuclide concentrations in
fish,
crustaceans,
invertebrates,
marine-eating birds, and bird eggs are listed in Table 34.
More detailed
information can be found in Noshkin et al. (1988).
The !37cs concentrations
are very low in reef and pelagic fish, crustaceans, and invertebrates.
This
reflects the solubility and rapid d‘lution of !'37Cs in the lagoon and ocean.
Also, as a result of low concentration in marine species, the !37Cs
concentrations in the marine-feeding birds and their eggs, which are the birds
and bird eggs eaten by the people, are verylow.
The concentration of 90Sr is also very low in the tissues of all marine
species; the 90Sr concentration is much higher in the bones, skin, and gut
contents of fish.
Many of the reef fish feed on coral and bottom sediments,
which still contain 90Sr.
The 90Sr is, thus, present in the gut and is
concentrated in the bone and skin after ingestion.
from these
Marshallese.
fish are not
consumed
and
Fortunately,
the bones
the skin is rarely consumed by the
Similarly, the bones from birds are not consumed.
The transuranic radionuclides -(Pu and Am) are similar to 99Sr in that
they are very low in tissues of marine species and are concentrated in the
bone, liver, and gut.
In general, the marine pathway does not provide a major
source of intake of !3?cs, 905r, 239+240py, or 241 am.
52