-10-

of U235 ag depicted by Hunter and Ballou (1951).

From their Figure

1 the following approximate slopes were obtained graphically: 20-100
days,

-1.2; 200-547 days, -1.8; 2-6 years, -1.3; 10-25 years, -0.7;

150-180 years, -3.7.
Thus, the mean slope for the Eniwetok samples is slightly
steeper than that of Hunter and Ballou up to 100 days; then,
period from 2 to 6 years,

in the

the Eniwetok samples tend to be at first

less steep, and toward the end of the period, steeper.

Future counting

may show whether these curves will level slightly to -0.7 as does
Hunter and Ballou's curve at about 10 years.

For the first six curves (Table 1) of pre-Mike samples involving
products of the Greenhouse tests the curves tend to be steeper than for
TaN

corresponding periods for post-Mike samples.

Contamination of post-

Mike samples by the older products from Greenhouse would tend to produce an effect in this direction, but so marked an effect is rather sur-

prising.
In contrast to the general tendency as noted above for the average
of the slopes to become steeper after 3 years, certain curves showing
a slower decay than average may be of special importance.

Curve 49

for rat muscle decayed most slowly of all those studied,

with a half

life during the

In gamma

last 3 years,

of more than 30 years.

spectroscopy of this plate only Cs!37 was detected.

A listing of those

Select target paragraph3