o4(7)
Gross B activity in soil samples, by 1 inch increments, Rongelap,
Eniaetok and Kabelle Islands.
In addition there are two reports awaiting publication on the Rongelap
surveys (1) UWFL-55 Radiobiological studies of the fish collected at
Rongelap and Ailinginae atolls July, 1957 and March, 1958 and (2) the
occurrence of antimony-125 and europium-155, iron-55 and other radionuclides
in Rongelap Atoll soil April, 1958.
For the August-September, 1958 collection we know that:
(1)
Coconut crabs were collected at Rongelap, Kabelle, and Eniaetok
(5,5 & 1) but are becoming difficult to find on Rongelap.
(2)
A duplicate sample of the food intake by 9 natives for 24 hours
(and urine sample for same period) has been collected.
(3)
Survey meter readings were taken and the regular collection of
plants and animals were made.
The survey meter readings in August
{after Hardtack) were about the same as in March,
The list of food items in (2) is being forwarded from the University of
Washington.
In addition, Dr. Conard is forwarding some of his notes about
the dietary habits of the natives.
Synopsis.
The heavy fallout at Rongelap occurred in March, 1954.
Since
that time there has been relatively little fallout and the rate of decline
of radioactivity of any specific tissue has been fairly linear on a plot of
the logarithum of time (beginning with March, 1954) ve. the logarithun of
activity.
There was a slight but measurable increase in radioactivity of
Rongelap samples following the 1956 test series.
In 1958 the survey meter
readings were about the same following the test series as they were before
the series indicating little fallout if any.
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