Se ett cus

ABSTRACT

The radiological contamination of Rongelap and Ailinginae Atolls in the
eastern Marshall Islands has been evaluated from samples of material
collected and from surface readings.

The results of expeditions sponsored

by the United States Atomic Energy Commission, Division of Biology and
Medicine, and carried out by the Applied Fisheries Laboratory, University
of Washington, between March 26, 1954 and June 30, 1955 are summarized
in UWFL-42.

Additional observations and collections made during October-

November, 1955, are evaluated in this report.

The decline of the radioactivity was found to be -1.75, i.e., r= pie7s
and steeper than the rate of decay for mixed fission products at a year and
one-half (-1. 55).
The radioactive content of most samples collected from the northern
part of Rongelap Atoll continues to be higher than similar samples from

the southern part of the atoll.

The birds continue to be an exception to

this generalization.
Soil and lagoon bottom samples were collected extensively during October-November, 1955.

These samples show great variability.

Activity

levels in the top 3 inches of soil at Kabelle and Labaredj Islands varied

from 4.4 to 11.5 uwe/kg.

The highest value (20.3 uc/kg) of any soil sample

of the October-November collections, oddly, was found in the top 3 inches
of soil from Rongelap Island.

Other Rongelap Island values averaged

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