POTASSIUM AND CESIUM-137 IN BIRGUS LATRO (COCONUT CRAB) MUSCLE COLLECTED AT RONGELAP ATOLL

Technical Report · Fri Jan 15 04:00:00 EST 1960

OSTI ID:4180440

Chakravarti, D; Held, E E

Radiocesium and stable potassium levels were determined in samples of muscle tissue of Birgus latro, the coconut crab, collected at Rongelap Atoll, Marshall Islands, during March and August 1958 and March 1959, and at Utirik Atoll in March 1959. Levels of cesium-137 ranged betwoen 731 d/m/g dry weight at Kabelle Island, Rongelap Atoll, and 28 d/m/g dry weight at Utirik Island, Utirik Atoll. The average potassium value for all samples was 13.05 mg/g dry weight with a standard deviation of 3.66. No significant correlation between cesium-l37 and potassium levels was found. There wse no significant difference in the average levels of cesium-137 in crabs collected at different times at the same island. (auth)

• Research Organization: Washington. Univ., Seattle. Lab. of Radiation Biology
• NSA Number: NSA-14-021268
• OSTI ID: 4180440
• Report Number(s): UWFL-64
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ANIMALS
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
CESIUM 137
MARSHALL ISLANDS
MUSCLES
PACIFIC OCEAN
POTASSIUM
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
QUANTITY RATIO
SAMPLING
USA