RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION OF AREAS IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN FROM NUCLEAR TESTS 50 data on land crabs shown in Table 48 are from the Island of Kabelle which is more heavily contaminated than the Island of Rongelap).* Table 48 indicates that the average concentration of strontium—90 in the total food supply might be less than 360 Sunshine Units. (The Table 48—Estimates of Contamination of the Normal Food Supply of Rongelapese A B DatLy INTAKE Pounps/ Dat} PERSON Fish. 2.2.22 enn eee nee meee Pandanus.......-..----------- eee ee nee eens 1. 22 0.36 Cc Calcium Content (gms Ca/gm Wet weight) D Dany In- TAKE OF Ca! (gms) 0.001 0. 001 E F Fraction |STRONTIUM-90 Ca INTAKE (8. U.}e oF TOTAL 0. 56 0.16 0. 645 0, 184 CONTENT 0. 004 0. O88 0.021 5 € 0. 0006 0. 025 0. 029 250 0. 02 0. 01 0. 0004 0. 0006 0. 004 0. 003 0. 0046 0. 0034 Coconut meat and milk......-.----------~-----------------e Bread fruit. -.---.--------------------------- 2 eee eee eee Imported: Rite. ...--- oo en eee enn enn nn eee eee PIOUI. . 2-2. eee nen nnn nn enn eee eee eee eee peceeecwnnne Canned beef_.__...--.----------------- = eee eee eee Milk... 2.2 o ee een nnn ne ee eee Sardines. __2 2. ee ee ee eee eee Bhoyu._..- eee ee eee eee Coffee... 2 ee ee el ee cee eee n ee eeees Tea. ee een 0.1 ~), 0001 ~~. 045 0. 0046 0. 063 c eR 6.11 0.1 0. 004 0. 055 B.0.) 7.93 492.0 0. 08 0. 0001 0. 004 INTAKE 12 * 600 OClams....-2... 22222. een nnn ee eee eens 0.09 «0.03 Bae : Arrowroot. ...------------- -- oe ne nn ene ee rene Wild birds (muscle}.._.-...----------------------- one eee Land erabs.-.-----..-------------- 2-2 eee eee ee enn eee ee CoNnTRIBUmion To 7-2 300 & © (4000) 61,38 (252. 0) 40 260 ~0, 046 0.02 0. 88 Few 8mali * Average values. + These data are from island of Kabelle (ne date from island of Rongelap for July 1956 survey). General contamination of island of Rongelap is about one-fifth that of Kabelie. Lagoon water around these islands do not show as great 4 difference in activity. * These are land crabs from fsland of Kabelle. The strontium-90 concentration is higher than from earlier surveys, which is contrary to the plant activity as well as to the soil, and marine life data. (It has bean estimatod that about one-third of the intake of crab mest is from ocean crabs which have very little strontium-90 content.) # Estimated. ¢ An unknown part of this intake may be sea crabs (which contain considerably less Sr™) but is assumed here to be all land crabs. However,if crabs were eliminated from the diet, the intake might average about 107 Sunshine Units. Further, eliminationorrestriction of the consumption of pandanus would reduce the strontium—90 intake to well under 100 Sunshine Units. a apenas 7 - b. Estimated Future Body Burden of Strontium90 . mating the future body burden of strontium—90 of the Rongelapese: (1) Although precise values have not been established, there may be a discriminatory factor of several between Sr/Ca ratio in the food supply and that found in the bones.” (2) If the Rongelapese were returned to Three principal factors are operative in esti- their homeisland, their diet would be supplemented by imported (relatively uncontaminated) foods, especially rice. Also, the *There is some doubt concerning the correct strontium-00 activity in cisterns would be cleaned out and refilled the land crabs, since the values are higher than for previous surveys which fs contrary to all other data. Additional surveys should clarify this point, In any event the land crabs tested are from the island of ‘ with fresh water cisterns built. Island during the last survey.) The general contamination on Rongelap fs about one-fifth that of Kabelle. The difference in strontium-90 con- (3) Despite the wide variances in the data, analysis of the results from all of the surveys tent may not be as great as this, but since these are Jand crabs it would be expected those on Rongelap Island to be lower than on Kabelle Island. . : on the Pacific Islands shows a general decline Kabelle. (There were no collections of land crabs made on Rongelap . as . well . as ha vin & new .