-2l-

of ubout 0.3 ina fish (Tilapia).
and scales, however,

In the case of fish bone

the concentration factors may be higher.

In the croaker (Micropogon undulatus) concentration factors

for strontium in vertebrae and scales were 2.5 and 2.1 respectively those of sea water.
In addition to the above mentioned factors,

isotope

dilution by stable strontium would result in reduced uptake
of Ssr99 by marine organisms.

Stable strontium is present in

the sea at a level 6 to 1300 times that of the naturally oc~
curring forms of the other elements represented in fallout
(Table 3,

column 2).

Thus the discrimination against radio-

strontium as &@ consequence of the presence of stable stron-

tium in

sea water

would be 6 to 1300 times

that to which

the other radioelements would be subjected because

of the

presence of their stable counterparts.
Further discrimination against the uptake of radiostront ium
in these organisms may be caused by the scavenging action of
calcite formed from coral aragonite in fallout material.
simple experiment by the author,

pulverized coral was.

In

a

sprinkled

onto and allowed to settle through sea water contaminated with
sr 39 Clo.

Approximately 11 per cent of the radionuclide

removed from solution the first hour.
was

noted in @ parallel

was

No reduction in actARCHIVES

control experiment.

Suito, Takiyama

and Uyeda (22) reported that the ashes from the March 1, 1954
weapons
consisted

test at Bikini
of

white

which fell on the

granules

of

calcite

No. 5 Fukuryu Meru
approximately

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