are growing normally and are in good health. Comparison of the fertility and hatchability data
from the Rongelap hens with those from domestic hens does not demonstrate any effect of radiation on these phenomena.
TABLE 3.5 —Distribution of Radioactivity in Chicken Eggs
Total
gamma activity (%)
Shells
Total
beta activity (%)
81
Yolks
Albumen
68
15
4
23
8
TABLE 3.6—Radiochemical Analysis of Chicken Eggs
(Beta activity given in disintegrations per minute per total tissue
at 4 months postdetonation)
Sample
sr*?
Ba!|
Rare
Gross beta
earths
activity
Egg No. 27
Yolk
355
546
663
1,560
Albumen
Shell
52
18,080
92
3520
90
6060
260
30,000
Egg No. 29
Yolk
315
Albumen
45
825
132
997
132
2,178
316
22,300
4900
7830
38,000
Shell
3.7
INTERNAL RADIOACTIVE DECONTAMINATION STUDIES IN CHICKENS
A study was undertaken to determinetheability of both sodium EDTA and zirconium citrate
(Schubert and White!*) to increase the excretion rate of internally deposited fission products in
the Rongelap chickens. On the basis of previous experience, it was not expected that any appreciable decontamination could be effected at the time of this experiment (four months following internal radioactive deposition).
‘The excretion rates of eight chickens with large body burdens of internal contaminants
were determined for a period of four days as the base line for the study. Following this, two
chickens were injected daily intraperitoneally with 75 mg sodium EDTAfor four days; two
received injections of 70 mg of zirconium citrate (Schubert and White"®); and two were injected
with both zirconium citrate and sodium EDTA. Two chickens were kept as controls. The mean
beta and gammaactivity excreted by these chickens was determined individually for each of
the treatment days and for one day following cessation of treatment. Neither the zirconium
citrate nor the sodium EDTA alone waseffective in increasing the excretion rate as reflected
by the beta-activity measurements made. The combined administration of zirconium citrate and
sodium EDTA, however, doubled the excretion rate of the beta activity. No detectable change
in the rate of excretion of gammaactivity was noted. The excretion rate of fission products at
this long period postcontamination was less than 0.1 per cent per 24 hr. Thus the enhancement
of the excretion rate by the combination of zirconium citrate and sodium EDTA did not significantly decrease the total body burden.
38