50 RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION OF AREAS IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN FROM NUCLEAR TESTS Table 48 indicates that the average concentration of strontium—90 in the total food supply might be less than 360 Sunshine Units. (The data on land crabs shown in Table 48 are from the Island of Kabelle which is more heavily contaminated than the Island of Rongelap).* Table 48—Estimates of Contamination of the Normal Food Supply of Rongelapese B Dairy INTAKE Pounps/ Dav} PERSON CaLciuM CONTENT Co D DalIty In- (gms Ca/gm take or Ca] wet weight} (gins) Fraction or TOTAL Ca INTAKE E F |STRONTIUM-90 CONTRIBUTION To BR CONTENT (8. UL) INTAKE (8, U.) (COLUMN DX E) Fish___---_____..------------e- ne - ne eee 1.22 0. 001 0. 56 0. 645 12 7.73 Pandanus-_____..---------- +--+ 22 eo ee eee eee Clams__.._-__ eee e en ee eee ene eee ee ATrowroot. .....------------- +--+ +--+ ee e-eeeeee 0.36 0.1 0.09 0. 001 0. 004 4 0. 0006 0.16 0. 018 0. 025 0. 184 0. O21 0. 029 * 600 5 250 »92.0 0.11 7.26 Land crabs____....-.---------------------- +--+ -- eee Coconut meat and milk.._------.-------------- ++ eee Bread fruit.__..-.---..---.2.-.-----+-------- 22-2 eae Imported: Rice... 2 ee enn nee ene eee ee Flour... en nn en ee ene ee Canned beef__..-..-------.----------- ee eee eee Milk_.....--.-.---------------------- ----+-- eee een Sardines. ___....-..--------------- === ee eee Shoyu.__...------- oe eee een ee Coffee__....------ + -- eee ee eee nee ee A: *0.03 0, 02 0.01 0, 004 0, 0004 0. 0006 0. 055 0. 004 0. 003 0. 063 0. 0046 0, 0034 ~0. 0001 ~O. O48 ‘Wild birds (muscle). -_.--..----.-.----------------------- eee 0. 09 0.1 0. O00! 0. 004 0. 0046 ~), 046 300 bo)38 Few Small § ¢ (4000) 40 260 (252. 0) 0. 02 0. 88 Fe me 2 oem ay SOREE A However,if crabs were eliminated from thediet, the intake might average about 107 Sunshine Units. Further, elimination orrestriction of the consumption of pandanus would reduce the strontium—90 intake to well under 100 Sunshine Units. b. Estemated Future Body Burden of Strontium— 90 Three principal factors are operative in esti*There is some doubt concerning the correct strontium-90 activity in the land crabs, since the values are higher than for previous surveys which is contrary to all other data. Additional surveys should clarity this point. In any event the Jand crabs tested are from the island of Kabelle. (There were no collections of land crabs made on Rongelap Island during the last survey.) The general contamination on Rongelap is about one-fifth that of Kabelle. The difference in strontilum-90 content may not be as great as this, but since these are land crabs It would be expected those on Rongelap Island to be lower than on Kabelle Island. mating the future body burden of strontium—90 of the Rongelapese: (1) Although precise values have not been established, there may be a discriminatory factor of several between Sr/Ca ratio in the food supply and that found in the bones.” (2) If the Rongelapese were returned to their homeisland, their diet would be supplemented by imported (relatively uncontaminated) foods, especially rice. Also, the cisterns would be cleaned out and refilled with fresh water as well as having new cisterns built. (3} Despite the wide variances in the data, analysis of the results from all of the surveys on the Pacific Islands shows a general decline FE about one-fifth that of Kabelle. Lagoon water around these islands do not show as great a difference in activity. ¢ These are land crabs from island of Kabelle. The strontium-90 concentration is higher than trom earlier surveys, which is contrary to the plant activity as well as to the soil, and marine life data. (It has been estimated that about one-third of the intake of crab meat is from ocean crabs whieb have very little strontium-90 content.} 4 Estimated, ¢ An unknownpart of this intake may be sea crabs (which contain considerably less Sr) but is assumed here to be all land crabs. eeeRROeatenNee « Average values. + These data are from island of Kabelle (no date from island of Rongelap for July 1956 survey). General contamination of island of Rongelap is