Operation Ivy - Report to the Scientific Director - Radiobiological Studies at Eniwetok Before and After Mike Shot - Project 11.5

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Report to the Scientific Oirer-tor RADlOBlOLOGlCAL STUDIES AT ENIWETOK BEFORE AND AFTER MIKE SHOT University of Wmhlngton Apprawd for public rdesse; Distribution unlimited fl- Ahi

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The Marine Survey Unit had aa lte major objectives (1) the meaeuremeh of the residual radiation found in the living organlsme of Eniwetok Atoll as a result of prevloue weapone teste in this area and (2) a reeurvey of the area, following Mike rhot, to determine the change in amounte, klndr, and distribution of radioactive materials. The field data were collected by aeven rpeclallete who collected plankton, algae, rats, birds, fleh, plants, and invertebrate organlrme from Oct. 20 to Nov. 11, 1952. The material collected wae frozen for rtorage and shipment back to the Applied Fleherles Laboratory, where it wae identified, dleeected, weighed, ached, and measured for radiation in dlelntegratlone per minute per qam of wet eample. The pretert eurvey showed meaeurable amounte of residual radiation on and in the living organieme collected from the rtatlone along the eaetern and northern portion of the AtolL Followfng Mike ehot the radiation level increased manyfold, especially along the northern and rertern portlone of the AtolL The amount of radiation found on and in the epeclmene wae sufficient to deetroy or damage theee forma over a very wide area. Wlbsequent etudfee ehould determine the blologfcal half life of the materials contaminating the ares, Ulelr ehift in poe1Uon with the currenb, and the reeulte of the contamination from radioactive materials upon the living forma of the Atoll.

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The atomic energy reapam-tedlng program, initiated vt% the detonatiaa of Trinity rhot tn New Mexko in 1915 and continued rubeequently at Biklnl, Entvetot, and Newin, haa rerulted in contamtnattoq of the test rlter vith varying amounte d rxdioactive materials. Some of these radioactive matertale are abeorbed or adsorbed by an&al and plant life. To gab an undcrrtandlng of the nature of luch contxmlnatl~, field etudtee in the teet arw are eeeentlaL In the teete conducted at Bikini and Enlwetok, the ccmdittoxu am nearly ideal for a etudy d the caatamtnation of an aquattc environment. The Applied Ftehertee L.aborxtory hxe been lntererted in the problems preeented by dbpoeal of radtuactin vutee into v8ter ltnce the United Statu atomic energy program vae tnttlated. Field etudiee have been conducted by the Laboratory at Btktni aad Entvetok rinca the tnceptton of the teat prqrauu at Wee tw atoll& The data from theee rtu4ke are recorded ln a number of reporte prepued for the Atomic Energy Commteelon. A 1Iet of the rew te given tn Appendix A.

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To complete a project mch ae the marine eurvey of Eniwetok Atoll for the purpose of evaluating radiolcglcal contamlnatlar requiree the combined effort6 of many perrone and organizations. We cannot ac~owledge the help and ctxneel of all thoee who aided ue, but of erpecial help were thn me&err of the ARC Dlvteion of Biology and Medicine rtaff In the Washington office. ?he AEC pereonnel at Ranford Engineer Worke, in particular Kenneth Engluad, were meet hel#ul. The odmtnietrative staff of Operation Ivy, especially Duncan Curry, Jr., and Col P. L. Hooper, provided the eupport needed to carry out the operatione in the field. CDR J. FL Barker, Jr., USN, acted ae liataon dficer; Ma eervicee were tnvaluable in the preoperatiam plannfng, procurement d euppliee, shipping d material, and arrange-t for traneportation of persamel and eqolpment. The officer8 and enlieted men of the USg Oakhffl (ISD-7) rupplled the neceeeary aeeietance for our uparatione and tn many wayr made our work and rtay to the ara enjoyable. To them we acknowledge our thanks.

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CHAPTER 1 OBJEcI?vE AND BACKGROUND Preeervatioa ol mimene, 3.3.3 Unit of Measurement

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4.5.2 Analysis by Arta ..... 4.5.2 Analyris by Specler and Feeding Rabltr . 4.0.1 Analyde by Area ..... 4.6.2 Analyair by Specier .... 4.0.3 Analysis by ogann .... 4.73 Analyein of Organa and Tirmea, Preabot 4.7.4 Analyrir of Organa and Times, Porthot 4.7.5 Analyris by bland ..... BIKINIAND ENIWETOK RKSURVKY REPORTS BY THE COMON NAMES. GENERA, AND SPECIE8 OF FISH USED FOR COUNTINGAND NUMBER OF SPECIMENS . . LAND PLANT8 COLLECTED AT ENIWETOK, 1952. . PROCEDURES FOR PRECIPmATION OF FIBBIONPRCDUCTS

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2.1 Pre- and Poettert Collect.@ Statioru, Enlretok Atoll, October to 3.1 Rlrtogramr Shwlng Frequency Dlstrlbutlons of Ftadloactivity Counts of Engebi Beach Sand .......... 21 CHAPTER 4 f’tj!iSULTSAND ANALYSIS OF DATA 4.1 Relatlve Radloactivltp of Soil or Beach Siuld ...... 35 4.2 Histograms !hwlng RadloacUvlty ln Wet Weight of Whole Fish andof Fish Tlreuesfor All Stations ........ 39 4.3 Injured Goatfish, Y. awiflomma, Collected at Engebl Nov. 8, 1952 . . . 42 4.5 Photograph of a Singed Plover Taken a~ Biljlrl (6% Nautical bfiler from Ground Zero) Nov. 7, 1952 ........ 51 4.6 Photograph of a Singed Noddy Tern T&en on Rlgfli Nov. 5.1062 . . : 52 4.8 Rlrtograms Showing Ftadloactlvlty of Posthot Terns with Ftelatlon to Distance of Collecting Site from Ground Zero, Wet Sample . . . . 57 4.9 Photographs and Autoradicgraphe of lOO+ Secttone of Lungs from Rats Collected at Blljlrl Nine Days After Mike Shot Detonatton . . 59 4.10 bfaee-abeorptlon Curves from Boner of Rat and Tern Sampler, 4.11 b%a.ee-abeorptlon Curves of Radlochemlcdly Separated Fractions 4.12 Decay Curves of Radiochemlcally Separated Fractions of Rojoa 4.13a Photomlcrographs of Engebl Beach Sand on Aching Plates Counted 4.13b Photomlcrographr of Engebl Beach Sand on Aching Plates Counted 4.13~ Photomicrqraphe of Engebi Beach Sand on Aehlng Plate8 Counted 4.13d Photomlcrographr of Engebf Beach Sand on Aehlng Plates Counted 4.14 Autorad~ograph, Photograph, and Photomlcroqraph of Bfljiri Posttest Aehed Samples .......... 71 4.16 Approximately ActuaI-size Photographs of Eleven of the More FtadloacUve Posttest Aehed Samples 4.17 Autoradlographe of Algae Exposed to Supk &Pan ‘Film’ 1 4.18 Cotals Found on Bogallua Nov. 8.1952 ....... 75 4.19 Autoradiograph of Goatflsh, M. atij7ummu, Showing Radloactlvlty in the Gills .... 76

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4.21 Photographs of Fish Collected at Bogallua Nov. 8, 1952 . . . 4.23 Land Plants from Engebl, Postshot ....... CIIAPTER 4 RESULTS AND ANALYSIS OF DATA Radioactivity of Water Samples ....... Radloactlvlty of Plankton Samples ....... Radioactivity of the Seven Most Common Algae by Island, Postshot Radloactlvlty of Invertebrate Samples by AnimaI Groups, Pretest . Frequencies of Invertebrate Ashed-sample Counts by Magnltudcr, Rsdloactlvlty of Separate Tissues or Organs of Different Groups of Radioactivity of AI1 Invertebrate Samples Counted at Each Collecting Radloactlvlty of Whole Fish by Stations ...... Radloactlvtty of Fish from AI1 Stations Compared by Feeding Rablts Radioactivity of Fish Tissues Compared by Stations, Preshot . . Radioactivity of Fish Tissues Compared by Stattons, Postshot. . Radloactlvlty of Land Plants by StaUons ...... Radiochemical Anaiyees of Soils and Piants, Postshot . . . Radloactfvlty of Rats ......... Radioactlvlty of Birds, Preshot ....... Radloactlvlty in Rats and Shore Birds Compared by Fcsdlng Rablts . Radloactivlty in Terns and Shore Birds Compared by Feeding Rsdlochemlcll AnaIyaes of Sand, Soil, and BldcglcaI Samples, Comparison of Radioactlvlty of Two Species of Sea Cucumbers Collected at Aarasnblru, Postehot ....... 5.1 Radloactlvlty of Samples Summarized by Groups and by Islands .

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Individual Valuea of Invertebrate Samplea, Pretest . . Radioactivity of Invertebrate Orgm8. and Tlaeues by Food Liet of Speciftc Activity of Invertebrate Samplem. Poetehot

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OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND For Operation Ivy the Marine Survey Unit, Project 11.5 of Task Group 132.1, had as major objectives the evaluation of the contaminatior of living organisms following Mike shot and an investigation of the residull radiation contamination of the fauna and flora of Eninetok Atoll from the previous weapons tests. Since Eniwetck Atoll has been used for several tests of atomic weapons since the last resurvey by the Applied Fisheries Laboratory group in 1949, it was essential to establish the level and kinds of residual radiation from the previous teets before the detonation and resultant contamlnaticn of Mike shot. The data on the preshot contamination were obtained from samples of flora and fauna of the Attill and the lagoon. In addition to the data accumulated regarding the level of radioactive contamination, it was necessary to determine the condition d the animal and plant populations in the areas chosen for sampling stations. The ertensivc cmstruction program on the Atoll since 1949 not only changed the surfaces of the islands but also modlfied many of the marine areas. Following Mike shot the studies were directed to the evaluation of 1. The determination of the extent of the area contaminated. 2. The nature and kinds of the radioactive materials found in the various areas. 3. The amount and kinds of radioactive substances absorbed or adsorbed onto the plsntr 4. The more immediate effects of Mike shot upon the plants and animals.

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To carry out the field portlar of the apcritlone, repreeentatlver of the Applied Flsherlee Laboratory, Unlverelty of Waehlngton, epent the period from Oct. 20 to Nov. 11, 1952, at Enlwet& Field partler left the group headquartere 00 the US8 Oakhffl (LSD-7) each day for the collecting etatlone about the liqp3oa. Collectlone were made by the following epeci8Uste ln each d the leveral flelti Kelehaw Bonham Invertebratea Edward E. Held fnvertebrater Ralph F. Palwnbo Aquatic and land pleata Allyn E. &?ymour Plaiktoo and water mmplea Arthur D. Welander Fieh The fiual procereing d the material and the tiyete of the data were accoewlbhed by the combined efforts d the entire rtaff of the Laboratory. Each of the reveral lpeeki.ete supervlned the work in hie field of rpeciaIlzatloo and rummarLed the rerulte for Wusan ln IhIs group report. Dorothy South wae reepoarlble for doing the chemical analpea oa selected rpeclmene of sand, coil, and blolo@crl eamplee. The work 011abeorptioa and decay curvn N huxlled by Paul olsoo. The loc8tlooe ad the collecting statlone are shown in Fig. 2.1. There were seven major rtatlonq six of rbicb were approximtely the uame aa tboee vtelted lo 1948 end 1949. The reventh et&ion, Bogombogo-Bogall- wee 2 to 2 mllee wed d tbe Mike rhot ted ieland. Tbe eame ueae from which collectlone were ma& before the teet were revlelted after the tert where clrcumrtances allowed. Collectlow of fleh, lnvertebratee, and algae were genenliy made on the lagoon ride from the lntertld8l zone down to a depth d about 12 ft. Occael&y the umpilng area M exteaded to the ocean ride d the collecting etatloa, eepeclally ii tbere was a ecarcfty of epeclmem co the lagoon elde. Terrcrtrlal plantr and anlnule were grthezed from the lelande, en& while tbe reef erbd island collectlmr were being made, plankton-towlag. dredgfng, and water-•unpllng operrtloru were being carried ai la coatlguaue watere. Tbeee operatlone on occaelon extended 2 or 2 mile8 from the 8rea d reef collectlone.

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CollecUo~ were made both before and after the Mike test d November1. The pretest umplcs were collected from October 21 to 28, and tbo poettest aamplea were colloctd from November 3 to 10. The collecUag date. and dtstmccr from YIke abo4by talaada are given Ia Table 2.1-COtLECTION DATA, MIKE SHOT

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AU btologlcal matcrtal, wtth the excepttoa cd phkton aad nts, that N to be wed for radtoactlvity analyses w8a placed on Ice La an Insulated contatner 8s It wu collected. After to a deep-freeze box for freeslog and ltonge. Ikrtag the air flight from Eatwetok to Bcattle, the lpectmene were tansported in an tnsulated coat8iner wtth dry lee. The specimens arrived at the Untversity d Wuhbgtat laboratory In a frozen caodittao and were tmmedtateiy *tored tn a deep-freeze unit, where they remained unttl tune for proceemtng. Algae rod planta that were to be ueed far uttoradt~ or u berba~ium rpecimeae were dried and pressed in the field. All phnktoa UJX@-, u well u fish and 8l@ opeclmens, that rare to be used for Identlfic8tiai were preserved in 4 per cent formelin. The umples were uhed and plated in much the same wer u prevtmely described.’ Briefly, the procedure wao au followa: (1) Fish, invertebrater, birda, rata, amf land plante were dissected, and approdmately l-g samples of variuus tlreuee were placed upon weighed able and the activity of the sample at the time d dIssection u determtned b survey meter. The meau sample weight of 145 randomly selected samplee was 1.17 t 0.074 g.* (2) The wetsample platen were placed ln a drytng oven at 97 to OQT for 12 to 24 hr. (2) They were then cooled tn 8 desicxator, 8ad the dry wetghta wre determined. (4) The platee wre next moved to the muffle furnaco for about 12 hr, during which tlme the temperature N gradu&ly raieed to 200% then more rapidly to a maxlmum of 550%; clam sht? 0 and corale were held at 8OOT for 20 mtn. (5) After cooling, the aeh wu elurried wtth ethyl alcohol, and a clean glase rod wu wed to dtstrIbute it evenly on the plate. Following drying, a wetghtleu amount of formvar in a 0.05 per cant solutim of ethylene dkhlortde was added to prevent ash from betng blown off the plate. After drying under a heat lamp, the plate was ready for counting. The mmples were canted ln two Nucleometer internal-gae-flow (pure metbme) taunting *In this reportthe value followtng the mean zs the standard error.

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A compromtse was m* u to iength of counting Umc since tberc were many plater to be couated, otLy two countera were available, and It wae desirable to keep the correction factor for decay to a mldmum. Tbe counting Ume for lrch plate ru determined by its approaimate counting rate, including a 50 cl’m background, in accordance wltb the following schedule: ‘fYte counting period for practically all rampler collected after the Mike teat (N&ember 1) was from November 24 to December 12. Yoet of the samples from the pretest coll+Uonn were counted after this period but before the end d December. During thb period a tl-hr-day 7S.2.2 Dlrrtribution of Cauds The rtaUeUcal diotrtbutiao d sample counta appeared to be of a logarlthmlc or log-log mture. To further iovertigate the type of dtatribution, two eerier al count8 of 100 samplea each d unaabed poottest Engebi eand were made. Sand, in a jar, wae dried !n the oven and respectively fn is number of samples counted). The emali-Bample series was counted in the Nucleometer for 10 …