“In addition, there are new methods proposed for processing copra which
have different operating conditions and produce different by-products.
The
products from these-new methods need to be evaluated because it maybe possible
that the radionuclide distribution wil be different, prehaps with the results
that the products using these methods, may be more acceptable on the world
market.
The importance of copra on the economy of the Marshall Islands, and on the
" economy of Enewetak and Bikini Atolls in particular, is of such importance
that the experiments to determine the radionuclide distribution in copra
products from the different methods should be carried out.
Only limited
studies have been possible in current programs.
5.)
Transuranics in Fish
The global experience in marine studies of the transuranics is too brief
to model or to predict confidently concentrations of plutonium and other
transuranics accumulated from the environment by marine organisms.
It was
recently found that the average concentration for 23942405, in muscle of
mullet from Rongelap Atoll was larger than the average concentrations in these
fish from other atolls, including the more contaminated atolls of Bikini and
Enewetak.
This unanticipated finding can be resolved through additional
research at Rongelap Atol? in order to describe the environmenta}) links
transferring transuranic radioactivity to man.
Of the transuranics, plutonium and americium to date have received the
greatest attention in the radiological program at the Marshall Islands.
Recently, however, curium has been detected in fish tissues from Enewet ak and
Bikini and may be, by analogy, present in higher concentrations in fish from
Rongelap.
The internal dose to man from curium by ingestion of marine foods
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