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