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UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTO..
LABORATORY OF RADIATION BIOLOGY
AO ciey
FISHERIES CENTER
SEATTLE 5, WASHINGTON
November 21, 1960
i
Dr. I. E. Wallen
Aquatic Biologist
Environmental Sciences Branch
Division of Biology and Medicine
U. S. Atomic Energy Commission
Washington 25, D. C.
Dear Gene:
- The composition of and results of radiochemical
analyses of twenty-four hour rations of nine adult males
at Rongelap Island in September 1959 are are in the
attached tables.
Determinations of CoV,
Csl37,
and Mn>4 were made by gamma ray spectroscopy ae a
three inch solid sodium iodide aseons in conjunction
with a 256 channel analyzer.
analyses were done
by a combination of nitric head precipifation and ion
exchange procedures.
Counting of the Y¥7¥
daughter was
with a low level beta counter having a background of less
than 1 c/m and an efficiency of 48%.
Potassium determin-
ations were made by flame spectrometry.
Calcium analyses
were made by a permanganate titration method and confirmed
by flame spectrometry using an internal standard technique.
As was pointed out in a letter from Held to
Seymour on Séptember 13, 1958, caution must be used in
collecting such daily rations to be reasonably sure that
they are a true representation.
Misunderstanding and a
misquided desire to please on the part of some individual
Rongelapese can easily lead to merely a collection of miscellaneous food items rather than actual daily rations of
prepared food.
Niel Morriss, Trust Territory Resident
Agriculturalist at Rongelap Atoll, and Bwio Soap, former
village secretary were invaluable in assisting in the col-
lection of these samples.
It was felt that a few samples
Which were witnessed to be composed of the items and portions actually being consumed were preferable to many
Samples of uncertain origin.
Consequently, some samples
proferred by individuals were discarded.
In spite of the care used there are obvious discrepancies,
Sample ;3, for example, appears to be ridiculously low in total amount of food consumed.
been some
9002238
There can be little doubt that there must have .
"snacking"
for which there is no accounting.
Mot