Atomic Radiation and Oceanography and Fisheries 



standpoint both of research and of proper con- 

 trol of this new kind of pollution, careful rec- 

 ords should be maintained of the kinds, quanti- 

 ties, and physical and chemical states of all 

 radio isotopes introduced into the seas, together 

 with detailed data on locations, depths and 

 modes of introduction. This can probably best 

 be done by national agencies reporting to an 

 international records center. 



Although we are urgently concerned with 

 preventing possible deleterious effects of atomic 

 wastes, atomic radiations can also be of benefit. 

 Large-scale experiments employing radioactive 

 isotopes might contribute importantly to our 



knowledge of the flux of materials through the 

 food chains from the phytoplankton to the 

 harvestable fishes, invertebrates, and whales 

 (Schaefer, Chapter 13 of this report). Such 

 knowledge will not only make possible assess- 

 ment of the ocean's potential for providing food 

 to mankind, but is a basic prerequisite for the 

 effective conservation of marine populations, to 

 permit maximum harvests to be taken year after 

 year. Other experiments using radioactive trac- 

 ers could lead to improved knowledge of the 

 processes of circulation and mixing in the sea 

 (Folsom and Vine, Chapter 12; Craig, Chap- 

 ter 1 1 ) . In both types of experiments, inter- 



TABLE 2 Elements in Solution in Sea Water (Except Dissolved Gases) ^' 2 



mg/kg 



Element CI = \9.QQ%o 



Chlorine 18,980 



Sodium 10,561 



Magnesium 1,272 



Sulfur 884 



Calcium 400 



Potassium 380 



Bromine 65 



Carbon 28 



Strontium 13 



Boron 4.6 



Silicon 0.02 -4.0 



Fluorine 1.4 



Nitrogen (comp.). 0.01 -0.7 



Aluminum 0.5 



Rubidium 0.2 



Lithium 0.1 



Phosphorus 0.001-0.1 



Barium 0.05 



Iodine 0.05 



Arsenic 0.01 -0.02 



Iron 0.002-0.02 



Manganese 0.001-0.01 



Copper 0.001-0.01 



Zinc 0.005 



Lead 0.004 



Selenium 0.004 



Cesium 0.002 



Uranium 0.0015 



Molybdenum 0.0005 



Thorium < 0.0005 



Cerium 0.0004 



Silver 0.0003 



Vanadium 0.0003 



Lanthanum 0.0003 



Yttrium 0.0003 



Nickel 0.0001 



Scandium 0.00004 



Mercury 0.00003 



Gold 0.000006 



Radium 0.2-3 X 10 



1 Sverdrup, H. U., M. W. Johnson 



2 Revelle, R., T. R. Folsom, E. D 



Nuclide 



K* 



Rb^' 



T J238 

 U235 



Th=== 



Natural activities 



Total (tons) 



6.3 X 10' 

 56 



Curies 



4.6 X 10" 



2.7 X 10' 



1.18 X 10"^ 



8.4 X 10' 



Ra"" 



and R. H. Fleming, OCEANS (1942). 

 Goldberg, and J. D. Isaacs (1955). 



4.2 X 10^ 



1.1 X 10" 



