\e
28
Piles
Becenbef 31, 1958
P. A. Sullivan, Environmental
Sciences Branch, DEM
RADIOACTIVITY (BETA) IH FISH
TISSUES AT RONGELAP ATOLL
Dr. Seymour furnished the following data by telephone this morning:
“Average gross beta values for Rongelap fish in terms of micro curies
per kilogram of wet tissue are as follows:
PEIN
1.
March 1958, Kabelle Ieland reef fish - amscle .026, whele fish
approximately .10.
2.
March 1958, Rongelap Island reef fish - wuscle .006, whole fish
approximtely .¢10.
3.
August 1953, Rongelap Island reef fish - average maximm value for
muscle is .005.
4.
Current average values are as low or lower than values from any of
the previous collections.
Isotopic compesition of samples:
oa
.
1.
The estimated amount of K-40 fio umecle is approximately .603 micro
2.
Zinc 65 its the principal geama emitter in fish euscle. Maexiaqus value
from August 1958 collection is 0.2 micre curies per kilogran.
3.
Traces of Cobalt-60 are also present.
&.
Oniy other isotope expected in measurable apounts in fish muscle
would be iron $5.
5.
Strontiue-90 has not been found in fish auscle in efther the 1956
cc:
curies per kilogram.
or 1957 col}ection.
Dr. Dunban
br. Wolfe
Or. Boss
Dr. Dunning
J
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