Pandanus rruit and
Coconut Crabs
Pandanus fruit and coconut crabs (Birgus latro) were the two food
items of major concern with respect to gr70 content at the time of the
return of the Ronzelapese.
(Dunning,
Radioactive Contamination of
Certain Areas in the Pacific Ocean from Nuclear Tests,
1957, USsEC).
These have therefore been the subject of special study.
There is no indicdtion that the gr70 levels have chansed significantly between 1955 and 1959 in either Pandanus or Birgus.
About 30% of the total radioactivity in Pandanus fruit is due
primarily
to Cst37 with traces of zn®5.
traces of Cel44 are found
in the leaves but none in the fruit.
No significant seasonal trends have been noted although there
@
is greater variaticn in cst 47 and ,otassium levels in Pandanus in the
dry tnan in the wet season.
See
¢elso
5002224
UWwFLL- Ss ?,
UWF ~64