ABSTRACT
The qualitative distribution of radionuclides at Rongelap
Atoll as determined approximately five years after contamination by fallout from a thermonuclear device indicates distinct
differences between the terrestrial and marine environments.
levels of activity are low,
The
the specific activity being less
than the maximum permissible concentration for radioisotopes in
food or drinking water of man.
Of the wide spectrum of radionu-
clides concentrated in the surface layers of the soil,
spl25
and Cs
solution,
137
sr?0,
are the principal isotopes entering into the soil
The principal isotopes in the land plants and plant-
eating animals such as coconut crabs and the indigenous rats are
cst37 and to a lesser degree,
mainly gr 20 and Eul95,
sr2°,
Bottom sediments contain
‘The radionuclides in the lagoon water
have not been detected but are probably present in minute amounts.
Planktonic organisms contain traces of Mn>4,
zr?>,
Ru 106 and Ce 144 .
algae is cel44,
most commonly.
co?’”,
Co08O |
zn®>,
The principal isotope found in the marine
in the marine invertebrates Co®? and zn®> occur
Corals and coralline algae contain some sr29,
while the fish and sea birds are found to contain mostly zn©> ,
The presence of zn©> ,
csgi37
and sr99
in the body of the natives
reflects a diet of both marine and terrestrial origin.