RADIOACTIVITY IN THE REEF PISHES OF BELLE
ISLAND, ENIWETOK ATOLL, APRIL
1954 TO NOVEMBER 1955
Introduction
Previous studies of the radioactivity in the fishes in the
Marshall Islands have been confined to single surveys made soon
after an atomic detonation, occasionally followed by one to
three resurveys a few months up to three years later (UWFL-7,
UWFL-16, UWFL-19, UWFL-23, WT-616 (UWFL-33), and UWPL-43 ).
Trends in the levels or decline of radioactivity in the fish
populations could only be estimated by basing assumptions on
physical decay.
The purpose of this investigation was to measure the trend
or decline of radioactivity in the fish, to compare the decline
in different species, in some of the organs or tissues, and in
the environment and to compare the decline with the physical
decay of radioactivity.
Materials and Methods
Continuous, sequential studies of the amounts of radioactiv-
ity in the reef fishes of Belle (Bogombogo) Island, Eniwetok
Atoll, were made from April 14, 1954, through November 1, 1955,
during and after the weapons testing program at Eniwetok and
Bikini Atolls.
The Nectar shot of May 14, 1954, was the most
important in these studies,
since the detonation occurred but