Monitoring Fallout Radioactivity in Estuarine Organisms 



Stratosphere Circulation 



iWiorldwide Fallout 



Collection of Organisms 



Sample Preparation 



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leasuremenf of Radioactivil 



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Gamma Spectral Analysis 



Figure 12. — Radioactive materials are added to the estuarine environment through fallout from the explosion 

 of nuclear weapons. These materials often are accumulated and concentrated by seafood organisms. As 

 part of a program to study the biological concentration of fallout radioactivity by estuarine organisms, 

 Investigators collect organisms in the natural environment and take them to the laboratory for analysis. 

 The amount and type of radioactivity in the organisms are measured with specially designed electronic 

 equipment. The radioactivity content of some fresh-water and estuarine clams is shown in gamma spectral 

 analyses. 



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