27. Swanson, C. P., T. Merz, and W. J. Young. 1967. Cytogenetics, Prentice-Hall, Inc. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 28. Vollmer, A. T., and S. A. Bamberg. 1975, "Response of the Desert TRANSURANIC ELEMENTS IN TERRESTRIAL ANIMALS AND THE ENVIRONMENT: AN INTRODUCTION Shrub Krameria parvifolia After Ten Years of Chronic Gamma Irradiation." Rad. Bot. 15:405-409, 29. Wallace, A., and E. M. Romney, Eds, 1972, Radtoecology and Feophysiology of Desert Plante at the Nevada Test Site. USAEC Rep. TID-25954, pp. 439. 30. Williams, N. D., and N. J. Scully. 1961. "Somatic Flower-Color Variations and Morphological Changes Induced by C!" in the Snapdragon, Anttirrhinum majus." Genetics 46:959-969. 31. Woodwell, G. M. 32. Woodwell, G. M., and A. H. Sparrow. 1965. "Effects of Ionizing Radiation on Ecological Systems." In: Ecologieal Effects of Nuclear War, G. M. Woodwell, Ed. BNI-917 (C-43). Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, New York. pp. 20-38. 33. Ecosystems." 1962. "Effects of Ionizing Radiation on Terrestrial Sei. 138:572~-577. Woodwell, G. M., and R. H. Whittaker. 1968. "Effects of Chronic Gamma Irradiation on Plant Communities." Quart. Rev. Bio. 43:42-55. Environmental Monitoring and. Support Laboratory U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Las Vegas, Nevada ABSTRACT This discussion provides background information to the session on the “Transuranic Elements in Terrestrial Animals." Briefly outlined are some of the historical events leading to the introduction and diepersiqh of the transuranic elements into the biosphere, to the establishment of the Nevada Applied Ecology Group (NAEG), and to the studies conducted by the Environof mental Monitoring and Support Laboratory (EMSL~LV) and the University Nevada-Las Vegas involving the transuranics distributed by the “safety shots" and the nuclear weapons testing program at the Nevada Test Site These studies are described in relation to and the Tonopah Test Range. the overall objectives of the NAEG program. Other potential sources of the transuranic radionuclides are also discussed. ADDITIONAL REFERENCES Casarett, A. P. 1968. Radtatton Biology, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. G. D. Potter Prentice-Hall, Inc. SESSION INTRODUCTION Sparrow, A. H., and G. M. Woodwell. 1962. "Prediction of the Sensitivity of Plants to Chronic Gamma Irradiation." Aad. Bot. 2:9-26. in July of Historically, the nuclear weapons test in Alamagordo, New Mexico, elements into 1945 resulted in the First significant injection of transuranic also injected the biosphere. The first thermonuclear device detonated in 1952 and Perkins, large amounts of radioactive debris into the stratosphere (Thomas the increased 1974). The higher energy yield of thermonuclear devices led to in production of transuranic elements and their distribution in the biosphere and Chinese significant amounts as a result of U.5S., Russian, British, French, nuclear weapons testing programs carried out in subsequent years. has also conThe burnup of a SNAP reactor in 1964 during atmospheric reentry Other biosphere. tributed to transuranic materials being introduced into the Greenland, had the ineidents such as those at Palomares, Spain, and at Thule, Furthermore, potential of adding substantially to the worldwide inventory. a long-term basis as transuranium nuclides ate presently being generated on a result of the production of fuels for nuclear power reactors. 378 379