227 SESSION IV it? FREMONT-SMITH: Were the fish getting this and accumulating EISENDUD: Yes, but very, very small amounts. We said it was high enough to be interesting vut low enough so that we didn't really have to worry aboutit. DOBSON: I should like to ask Lauren Donaldson something. It is a brcad question which [ hope I can put sharply enough. Extrapolating from the experi-nces that you have had over the years with your ecological studies, what kind of situation would you visualize, let us say in the western part of the United States, in the Washington State region, if a sizable number of nuclear devices were exploded there? I am thinking of the aquatic biota, the river systems, the terrestrial fauna and flora, and so forth. choose the number yourself, Not an overwhelming number of bombs; DONALDSON: find it most difficult to answer your question, except in the most generalterms. The number, size, and composition of the devices detonate i would have to be stated in your pron- lem. The conditions under which the energy was released, whether in air, on the ground, over land or water, or even under the water in a harbor, for instance, are important in outlining even a general answer. If we assume the device is exploded in the air out of contact with land or water, the near-in fallout would be of little consequence to aquatic animals. If, on the other hand, it is detonated underwater, especially in salt water, the radiation problem would be maximal in its effect on aquatic animals. Inthe aquatic environment radioactive materials are carried by the currents; some settle out on the bottom or go into the deeper non- mixing layers; sume are selectively concentrated in the food web and passed along the food chain, following many possible pathways. CONARD: Did you say that over land it would not be of consequence? DONALDSON: It would be of little consequence. CONARD: I don't see why you wouldn't have a big fallout problem with the fireball if it wa3 close enough to the surface to draw up and incinerate tremendous quantities of earth into the cloud. DONALDSON: I assumed that it was a high burst for illustration.