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Title:
RADIOACTIVITY AND RECOVERY OF THE LAND PLANTS AT ENIWETOK ATOLL, 1954
Author(s):
PALUMBO, R F [UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, LAB. OF RADIATION BIOLOGY]
Subject Terms:
PLANTS; NECTAR EVENT; CASTLE OPERATION; BLAST EFFECTS; BETA DETECTION; SOILS; ALGAE; MAPS; SAMPLING; ACTIVITY LEVELS; RADIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS; GAMMA DETECTION; DOSE RATES; URANIUM 235; CESIUM 137; STRONTIUM 90; CERIUM 144; PROMETHIUM 144; ZIRCONIUM 95; NIOBIUM 95; RUTHENIUM 106; RHODIUM 106; COBALT 57; COBALT 60; ZINC 65; WATER
Document Location:
Location - DOE/NNSA NUCLEAR TESTING ARCHIVE Address - P.O. Box 98521 City - Las Vegas State - NV Zip - 89193-8521 Phone - (702)794-5106 Fax - (702)862-4240 Email - NTA@NV.DOE.GOV
Document Type:
REPORT
Publication Date:
1960 Jul 20
Declassification Status:
Never classified
Document Pages:
0047
Accession Number:
NV0050026
Document Number(s):
UWFL66DRAFT
Originating Research Org.:
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, LAB. OF RADIATION BIOLOG
OpenNet Entry Date:
1994 Aug 26
OpenNet Modified Date:
2008 Mar 31
Description/Abstract:
A LONG-TERM INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED AT ENIWETOK ATOLL DURING 1954- 1957 TO DETERMINE THE RATE OF RECOVERY OF LAND PLANTS DAMAGED BY THE R ADIATION, SHOCK AND HEAT BLAST OF THE NECTAR DETONATION IN 1954. DURI NG THIS PERIOD THE LEVELS OF GROSS BETA RADIOACTIVITY IN THE PLANTS, T HE RADIOISOTOPES PRESENT IN SOME OF THE PLANTS AND THE SOIL, AND THE C HANGES IN THE LEVELS OF BETA RADIOACTIVITY IN THE TISSUES OF THE PLANT S, WITH TIME AFTER THE DETONATION ( DECLINE OF RADIOACTIVITY ), ALSO W ERE INVESTIGATED. AT BELLE ISLAND SEVEN PLANT SPECIES WERE TAGGED, ME ASURED AND PHOTOGRAPHED BEFORE THE DETONATION. AT APPROXIMATELY MONTH LY INTERVALS AFTER THE DETONATION, FOR A PERIOD OF TEN MONTHS, AND AGA IN AFTER AN INTERVAL OF SIX MONTHS, THE PLANTS WERE OBSERVED AND PHOTO GRAPHED. THE FIRST INDICATION OF RECOVERY WAS OBSERVED ON THE EIGHTH DAY, AT WHICH TIME BUDS WERE NOTICEABLE ON STEMS OF SCAEVOLA AND MESS ERSCHMIDIA PLANTS. IN A MONTH'S TIME, MOST OF THE PLANTS HAD FORMED N EW LEAVES AND SOME HAD PRODUCED FLOWERS AND FRUITS. IN SIX MONTHS, TH E GENERAL CONDITION OF THE VEGETATION WAS SIMILAR TO THAT WHICH EXISTE D BEFORE THE DETONATION. TWO PLANTS, GUETTARDA AND PORTULACA, WHICH W ERE UNHEALTHY AT TEN MONTHS, HAD IMPROVED BY THE SIXTEENTH MONTH. PHO TOGRAPHS OF THE RECOVERY OF SOME OF THE PLANTS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS RE PORT, AS WELL AS A DISCUSSION OF AGENTS OTHER THAN RADIATION WHICH HAV E BEEN REPORTED TO CAUSE SIMILAR DAMAGE TO PLANTS OF THE CORAL ATOLLS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN.