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b
F
ak
oe]
i
ca
4
due gee
De enema toe,
*
Kapingamarangi, Tarawa, Ponape, and Kusaie was only slightly
above the background level of the counter.
The naturally-
a
a
3
3
i
eccurring isotope x*9 contributed most of the radioactivity,
F
which,
for the samples listed in Table 3, ranged from 1.8 to
19 puc/g of wet tissue.
The levels of radioactivity in samples from one of the
islands at the test site (Bikini) were considerably higher
‘than in the "off-site" samples.
For example, algae collected
at Bikini Island in September 1956,
two months after comple-
tion of the Redwing series, averaged 5,500 puc/g, whereas
samples collected at the same time at Ponape Island averaged
78 ypuc/g.,
Similar comparisons with the fish, coconut and sea
cucumber tissues showed that the major portion of the radioactivity was deposited at or close to the test sites at Eniwetok and Bikini Atolis.
Comparisons of the radioactivity of different tissues
and of similar tissues at different times are limited by the
number of samples.
made.
However,
some general conclusions can be
The algae and fish liver contained the highest levels
ANAROEIEeeiet e pee
of radioactivity and the coconut meat and milk were the least
radioactive tissues at the majority of the stations.
The samples collected in January-February,
1955,
at the
atolls east of the test site contained relatively high amounts
POF
ies
A
i ia’ ik