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CHAPTER 4
a
RESIDUAL RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION IN FISH, MARINE
INVERTEBRATES, RATS AND BIRDS
PROCEDURE
Fish and birds were collected from the following islands of the Rongelap
Atoll: Rongelap, Eniaetok, Gejen and Kabelle. In addition, four rats
and one rooster were collected on Rongelap Island. Fish and marine invertebrates were also collected from Sifo Island in the Ailingnae Atoll:
Eniwetak Island in the Rongerik Atoll; Utirik Island, Utirik Atolls and
Likiep Island, Likiep Atoll, Marine specimens were collected in the
lagoons off the shores of the islands,
7
The fish were collected following the detonation of depth charges of
dynamite. The birds (terns) were shot. The rats were collected in
traps. All the specimens collected were placed in individual plastic
bags and immediately frozen with dry ice. The frozen samples were
transported to the USNRDL where they were analyzed for gross radioactivity and for the presence of their specific radionuclide content.
The smali fish were analyzed whole and the marine invertebrates
were analyzed either whole or after removal from the shell. A number
of the large fish were separated into skeleton, muscle, head, gills, liver,
skin and viscera for a study of the distribution of the internally deposited
radionuclides,
The samples were dried, ashed and the gross beta and gamma activity
determined in the m-nner previously described.*> The gammaactivity is
reported in d/m (Co” equivalent): the beta activity in d/m (Sr° equiva-
Radiochemical :nalyses were performed to determine the concentra.«
tion of several presiiesicd rudionuciides and of others whose presence
was indicated by a single-channel gamma analyzer. Calcium was determined with a tlame ¢pectrophotometer., The radiochemical techniques
employed are descrited in an earlier report.> Cobalt-60 was determined
aa ee sie
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lent), These “equivalent units" were derived from a comparison with
the activity of standards of Sr’ and Co™ counted in an identical manner
with the samples as descrized in Chapter 2.
- by a method previousiy described? and Zn® by the mercuric thiocyanate
procedure,
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