ABSTRACT
A long-term investigation was conducted at Eniwetok
Atoll during 1954~1957 to determine the rate of recovery of
land plants damaged by the radiation, shock and heat
of the Nectar detonation in 1954.
blast
During this period the
levels of gross beta radioactivity in the plants, the radioisotopes present in some of the plants and the soil,
changes in the levels of beta radioactivity in the
of the plants, with time after the detonation
and the
tissues
(decline of
radioactivity), also were investigated,
At Belle Island seven plant species
were tagged,
measured and photographed before the detonation.
mately monthly intervals after the detonation,
of ten months,
At approxi-
for
a period
and again after an interval of six months,
plants were observed and photographed.
the
The first indication
of recovery was observed on the eighth day,
at which
time
buds were noticeable on stems of Scaevola and Messerschmidia
plants.
In a month's time,
most of the
plants had formed
new leaves and some had produced flowers and fruits.
months, the general condition of
to
that which existed
In six
the vegetation was similar
before the detonation.
Two plants,