Bikini Radiobiological Resurvey of 1948

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BIKINI RADIOBIOLOGXAL RESURVEY OF 1948 Applied Fisheries Laboratory University of Washington This report is based on work performed under Contract No. W-28-094-eng-33 with the Atomic Energy Commission and in cooperation with the U.S. Navy.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Organization and personnel Evaluation of radioactive materials in fish collected at Bikini during the Radioactive materials accumulated by the algae of the lagoon and the inner and outer reef areas Radioactive materials contained in selected samples of invertebrate organisms Bikini plankton and the part it plays in the distribution of radiation around Bikini Atoll land survey with counts of the activity found on the land areas Evaluation of the 1948 field studies, with a statement on information needed for a better understanding of the biological problems of a contaminated area

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ILLUSTRATIONS AND FIGURES The IL21 (L)-1054 assigned to the expedition as an operations base. The forward deck was covered with a tarp to provide deck living space. The after deck was used as a laboratory for processing materials. The AG-140 which accompanied the expedition from Kwajalein to Bikini to transport the three small landing craft used for work within the lagoon. Map of Bikini Atoll Grouped Frequencies of Fish Samples by Average Beta-aroma Counts of Fish by Areas Expressed as Millimicrocuries Per Kil~ram of Wet Tissue. Average Beta-Gamma Counts of Fish by Species Expressed in Millimicrocuries Per Kilogram Average Beta-Gamma Counts of Fish Tissues Expressed as Millimicrocuries of Wet Tissue. Grouped Frequencies by Per Cent Error in Net Count of Fish Samples, Average Beta-Gamma Counts of Algae by Areas Expressed as Millimicrocuries Per Kilogram of Wet Tissue. Average Beta-Gamma Counts of Invertebrates by Areas Expressed as Millimicrocuries Per Kilogram of Sample. Bikini Island. Live vegetation such as aged twice the background count, while dead leaves and grasses averaged about four times background. The coral sand, center foreground, gave background counts only.

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ILLUSTRATIONS AND FIGURES, CONT. Rokar Island, on the eastern rim of the atoll and upwind from the blasts. The counts of the white coral sand along the beach were at background but increased to two and one+alf times background at the Beached LCT-816 on Enyu Island. The entire ship was contaminated with active Deck area of the LCT-816 with survey crew making readings. The starboard living quarters, left, produced activity counts of 1500 per minute; canvas on gun mount, center, 37,000? paint on gun tub 5,600; mat at door to pilot housec 60~0001 etc. . 45 Counts Per Minute of Green Vegetation, of Dead Vegetation and of Most Active Drift Items by Areas as Translated from Readings of a Beta-Gamma Survey Meter. 51 ‘

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Ratio of Tissue Weight to Total Body Weight for Eight Selected Types of Beta-Gamma Counts by Area and Species of 1948 Bikini Fish Samples Expressed as Millimicrocuries per Kilogram of Fish Average Beta-Gamma Counts of Algae by Areas Expressed as Millimicrocuries per Kilogram of Wet Tissue brates by Groups Expressed as Millimicrocuries per Kilogram of Sample microcuries per Kilogram of Organisms That Grew on Floats in Bikini Lagoon Average Beta-Gamma Counts of Plankton Expressed as Millimicrocuries per Kilogram of Wet Tissue from 1948 Bikini microcuries per Kilogram of Sample of Land Animals, Vegetation and Miscellaneous Drift Items

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BIKINI RADIOBIOLOGICAL RESURVEY OF 1948 part 1. Organization and personnel. At the request of the Atomic Energy Commission, with the active participation of the U.S. Navy, a radiobiologlcal resurvey of Bikini Atoll was conducted during the summer of 1948. The University of Washington, Applied Fisheries Laboratory was designated by Supplements 5 and 6 to the Contract No. W-28-094-eng-33 to carry out the field problem and to report A preliminary outline of the program of studies for the second radiobiological resurvey of Bikini for the summer of 1948 (Report UWFL-10) was prepared and fozwarded to the commission for approval. This report, in part, outlined the objectives as follows: “A resurvey of the Bikini Atoll during the summer of 1948 should be undertaken to further our knowledge of the over-all biological problems of the effect of the release of energy from atomic bombs above or under Biological studies are of necessity long time, complex projects. The Bikini biological studies are so very complicated that only through continuous long-time effort can we hope to understand the basic The fundamental data that need to be gathered at regular time intervals for re-evaluation of the problems involved are grouped as follows: (1) thy.=i,,,:! “:”, 5

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presence or absence of radiation in the various types of marine organisms; (2) the distribution of radioactive substances in the marine plants and animals from different geographical locations within the atoll: and (3) the amounts of radioactive substances in certain tissues and organs.” The radiobiobgical resurvey of Bikini during the of 1948 was a fine example of teamwork in research. The Energy Commission, the U.S. Navy and the University of Washington each contributed personnel, equipment and facilities to make the project possible. The Atomic Energy Commission provided the administration and financial support. The Washington office of the commission, especially the Division of Biology and Medicine, under the direction of Dr. Shields Warren, and Dr. James H. Jensen, Chief of the Biology Branch, were very helpful in expediting the research. The Hanford Operations Office of the Atomic Energy Commission, especially Mr. W.K. Crane, handled local arrangements for the commission in a most understanding The U.S. Navy provided transportation to and from the area. Ships, equipment, shore facilities, communications and many other services that made living and working in the area

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captain J.S. Russell, U.S. N. aided in many ways in the planning~ organizing and expediting of the expedition. The Island Commander stationed at Wajalein atoll, Captain J.J. Vest, U.S.N. and his very efficient staff of officers and enlisted personnel were most helpful and considerate. Especially noteworthy was the personal interest of this fine naval group in the success and welfare of the expedition. liaison officer. Lt. Schmidt accompanied the expedition from the mainland to the Pacific areas and return. His services

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increase the specialty skills available for evaluation of the radiation problems at Biktii, specialists were borrowed other universities for the field trip. Since training of technicians in radiation biol~ is a definite part of the over -all program of which this work forms a part, promising students were included in the field party. A balance in the program was maintained by assigning a junior member of the staff to work with each senior member in carrying out the various Members of the Bikini phases of the work. Lauren R. Donaldson, Group leader and Arthur 1).Welander, Radiobiologist and Asher A. White, Medical Consultant Prof. of Fisheries; Asst. Prof. of Fisheries and Research Associate, Applied Fisheries Lab., Lecturer, Univ. of Minn. College of Medicine and Nicollet

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Prof. of Botany, Univ. of Redlands, Redlands, Assoc. Prof. of zoology, Univ. of Calif., Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Aquarium, Univ. of Dept. of zoology, Applied Fisheries Lab., Applied Fisheries Lab., Student, Medical School, Student, School of With the completion of the field project the “borrowed” Personnel were returned to their various permanent stations. me work of organizing the data and writing the reports has been the work of the regular staff members of the Applied Fisheries

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Naval em ipment provided for the resuev In addition to the transportation and facilities provided by the NaW to move the personnel and equipment from the ma~land to the Pacific area and return, two small ships were provided for transportation and to provide living accommodations and laboratog facilities. corrunandingofficer, was assigned to the expedition for an operations base. The deck laboratory space field operations. In LCI with a few alterations to provide proved to be a very acceptable ship for addition to the LCI-1054 a support ship, the AG-140, accompanied the expedition from Kwajalein to transport the three (3) small landing craft needed boats within the lagoon. Mail, supplies and personnel were transported between Kwajalein and Bikini by P.B.Y. operating out of Kwajalein. Time schedule and work programs The research expedition left San Francisco, California, on Sunday, June 271 1948, via Naval Air Transport and after a stopover at Honolulu arrived at Kwajalein, M.I. On June 30. From XMajalein to Bikini transportation was by ship. me ~1-1054 arrived at Bikini on July 3, 1948, and remained until July 20, 1948, when the ships and personnel were mewed to , -.

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The LCI(L)-1054was assignedto the expeditionas an operationsbase. The forwarddeck was coveredwith a tarp to providedeck livingspace. The after deck was used as a laboratoryfor processingmaterials.

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During the eighteen (18) days at Bikini collections of material for the study of radiation were made at eleven (,11) major stations. This material contained representative samples of the faunal and floral systems from the lagoon, the inner and outer reefs. and from the islands. A total of ~918 ashed samples was prepared for determination of the contained radioactive materials. A vast quantity of material was preserved for future study in the laboratories on the mainland. A sumey was completed of the major islands to determine the amount of contamination with radioactive debris and drift material. Field counts were also made of the extent of contamination of the land masses, from the contamination of fission land plants and animals, etc. products found in the lagoon.

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part 2. ~aluation of radioactive materials in fish collected at Bikini during the summer of 1948. Methods of collecting fish were similar to those used at Bikini in 1946 and 1947 (Report No. UWFL-7) . The collections were principally of reef fish killed by rotenone~ supplemented by some fish caught by hook and line. Eleven areas geographically distributed throughout the atoll, which had been sampled in previous years, were selected as collecting areas. These areas from west to east in a clockwise direction were Boro, Namu, Uku, Amen, Amen-Bikini, Bfiini, boat anchorage, Rokar, Enyu, Arji and Erik. Samples were collected on the lagoon side of the islands, supplemented whenever possible with similar collections from the ocean side of the island or reef. The attached map has the major collecting areas marked with an X. The fish selected from the collections for determination of contained activity were in one of the following twelve groups: Blenny, cardinal, damsel, eel, goat fish, grouper, lizard, pUrOt, Siganid, Squirrel, surgeon and wrasse. These groups, based on the 1946 and 1947 collections, were selected as being commonly avai~a~~e and representative of the reef fish taken by our mean’S

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m effort was made to collect one or more Swcimens of each of these groups at each collecting station. Some fish other than those in the groups mentioned above were ~~pled, especially if all twelve groups were not available. Number Of samples A total of 1,152 samples was prepared from tissues taken from 187 specimens. Selection of tissues sampled was also standardized with six tissues--skin, muscle, bone, liver, gut and gi~~S-- usually taken. The spleen, kidney or gonad was also sampled when fish of sufficient size were available to yield an adequate sample. of these tissues. The samples were prepared for counting by placing approximately one gram of tissue--if that much available --on a one-inch stainless steel plate .005--inchstock. The samples were heated to about 120°C on a hot plate to initiate the reduction to an ash. After the tisgues charred, a drop of olive oil was added to reduce sputtering. The trays wi~ the tissue residue were then placed in a ‘Uffle furnace and the temperature gradually raised to 370°C. .’; ‘fter twO hours of heating the temperature was raised to 50~* and rEIintained wt--l a white ‘ash was obtained. A drop or more

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of nitric acid was then added and the samples removed to cool. If the sample became hydroscopic it was reheated to 500*c and ~ mop of sulfuric acid added. In spite of such treatment s~les with a high calcium content remained hydroscopic. Finally, after completing ashing and upon cooling, the plates but were not on cards, covered with cellophane and sealed with All of the fish samples counted until two months The samples were counted for beta-gamma activity only. The counting was done at the Applied Fisheries Laboratory, University of Washington, between September 15-28, 1948. With only one scaler in operation and with a large number of fish and other samples to be counted it was decided beforehand to Five-minute recounts were made of samples whose net original counts were O to 4 per minute. The counter was set in a circular lead shield with a sliding plate holder and connected with a scale of 64 scaler. Both products were made by Victoreen, the scaler being Model x-327. Corrections in counts The sample counts were corrected for background, for ~, weight, of sample and for geometry. For the entire counting +-“

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period, the average background count was 17.O per minute. mately 108 disintegrations per second the geometry was calculated as being 18.0 per cent. No correction was made for scattering, for self absorption, for absorption by air and by counter windm or for the probability of ionization. Counts were eventually converted to millimicrocuries per kilogram of sample by the following formula: In/uC/kg= net count per minute If the number of disintegrations per second for one curie is 3.7 x 1010 and this value is corrected for conversion to minutes and then the equation above is converted to millimicrocuries, the resulting value is 2.2 as appears in the denominator. The total activity of an individual fish was calculated as the sum of the activity of all of its tissues. This value was obtained in the following mannerl (millimicrocuries Per kilogram of skinj x (ration of total tissue weight to total bone + for liver, ~. = millimicrocuries per kilogram of fish. The body ratios, Table I, were obtained of one fish from eight selected t~S. by weighing the tissues Fish, other than those l~sted,were placed under one of the eight types as fOllOWs:

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blenny~ COIUmn II cardinal, goat fish, grouper, lizard, variola, snapp@r ~ pig fish, remora and half beak, column 2; damsel, column 3; wrasse, column 4; puffer, column 6; and jack, tuna Table I. Ratio of Tissue Weight to Total Body Weight for Eight Types of Bikini Fish brown convict parrot sigani.d squir- 2 line shark Tissue qrouper ral mated) Error in net count at the 95 per cent confidence level was calculated from the formula: equal to 1.96 for the 95 per cent confidence level, C is the total count and 100 the correction for per cent. Analysis of data: The data was analyzed with the purpose of estimating activity by areas,by species and by tissue. Analysis by area was based on the average activity of all fish sampled from one collecting area. Explanation of the calculation of activity by ‘pecies is given ab~e and is an average for all areas. ‘issue activity was cal~lated as the average gr~ of tissue for all fish from all areas.

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me results are shown in tabular form in Table II and ~ graphical form in Figures 1, Z, 3, 4 and 5. In general the cOunts were low, usually atoll (Erikl Boro, Namu) not exceeding …