might be nearly half of the plutonium dose.
A better understanding of the
behavior of curium both in the marine and terrestrial environments of the
atolls is warrented.
Since
242 Cm decays to 238 Pu, there will be changing
concentrations of this radionuclide in the environment and an evaluation of
the increases of Pu 238 in the local environments should be made.
There is still some uncertainity concerning what fish tissue and what
quantity of tissue is consumed by the Marshallese in their diet.
Doses from
transuranics through ingestion of fish flesh are low but specific communities
may also consume the liver, or parts of the intestinal tract or the entire
fish wherein concentration levels are generally much higher.
Until better
dietary information is available, it will be necessary to analyze all fish
parts to permit reconstruction of the radionuclide concentations for dose
assessment in any subfraction of the entire fish.
A better understanding of
how the radionuclides are distributed among various tissues could circumvent
the need for this continued long term analytical program. For example, if
ratios of activity between various fish parts are determined and verified, it
would then only be necessary to analyze one or two tissues of the fish and
predict other concentrations from the developed tissue ratios.
6.)
Ground Water
Groundwater studies at Enewetak and Bikini are progressing under the
current DOE research program but little is known of the rates or cycling
processes of radionuclides between the terrestrial soils and groundwater at
Rongel ap and Utirik.
The water is fresh enough for human consumption and
efforts should be made to protect this valuable resource and understand or
predict any major changes in radionuclide concentrations with time.
Understanding how radionuclides migrate to the water tables is closely linked
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