oT er ie, OP A ‘Tutte 9.12.—DterSarics of Camms Activig io 2 retain perenne p= The gross bets and gumma activities of the shell, albumen and yolk were measured in the iin He HF a Yokes... Alpemon........_.... s|6—ClC§)lctit 16 3 | 4 8 Aest 50) eggs obtained, and the gamma activity of the shell wae measured in the remainder of the eggs. An increasing amount of gammaactivity appeared in the shells of the first few eggs laid by each hen. The maximum gamma | Bers activity was usually noted in about the eighth egg laid. After the activity reached a maxi- Sawms mem value, the subsequent eggs in the series showed a general decline in activity. Two examples of this phenomenon are illustrated in Figure 5.6. The highest gamma activity fuund in as sinal= cuy shell was 66:4) counts per minute, measured at 60 days post detonation. For a as was anticipated. The average distribution ‘11. The results of the radiochemical analysis of two egys are presented in Table 5.12. The alkaline earths are the principal fission products depesited in the shell. In the albumen and yolk, the beta activity contributed by the alkaline earths was only a little greater than that aseociated with the rare earths. The pattern of deposition of the radioactivity within the egg was also studied by means of autoradiographs. .\ series of 50 eggs were hard boiled, sectioned, and autoradiographs were prepared of the cut surfaces. Only four of the yolks of these 30 eggs were sufficiently radioactive to produce autoradiographs (see Fig. 3.7). These 4 eggs were laid on sucressive days by the same hen. There is a correlation between the rings of radioactivity in the yolk and those of pigwent The amount of actiity removed from the beady of the ikea through egg laying is very mini om + |; ' Eex No. 37 | Yotk.___. Albumes_' Sheil ACYHITTY, we/Toras Mownn Past = Tusce aT ¢ — | nee | Rasa | Cores Bera ; Basves | | 385 | 53 | ActreertT | 46 | 92 | oz, a O25 . 7 «(1,560 26 | 18,080 | 3,598 | € 080 ' 30, 000 | \ Youth|| 318 | Ean No.7 xumma energy of approximately | mev, this figure corresponds to 0.0Tpc. The yolks and albamens had much less activity than the shells, of gamma activity in the eggs is given in Table | Albumen || 46! : 122 , a2: 2, 178 316 much greater than the amount excretedin the urine and feces during the period of this study. Evy production in the chicken represents a unique form of natural decontamination. 5.46 Fertilicy Chici sad Haechabilicy Scudies ins Fertility studies on the contaminated chickens were begun 314 months post detonation, with the mating of hens and roosters and the incubation of the eggs obtained. In the first clutch of 20 eggs, 4 were hatched. One of the chicks had the cnppling slipped-tendon condition, “congenital perosis,” which 18 not uncommon. Radioanalysis of the chick timues tndicated that only a barely detectable a iount of radioactive material was transferre. to the chick, although the muther ben had at this time ah apprectable contamination. In anther Laich oa mentbs post detonation, 1S ogy were incubated. Of thaw. 2s were in-

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