A man would have to eat approximately four pounds of fish weekly in 
order to match the average U.S. protein consumption. It has seemed to 
us reasonable to take a value approaching this as the extreme case of 
an individual subsisting almost entirely on fish as the source of protein 
in his diet, and have used 1.5 kg (3.3 pounds) per week in further com- 
putations. For example, for Sr?9, using 1.2 x 10-2 uc, computed above, 
as the maximum permissible weekly intake of nuclide and 1.5 kg as the 
weekly consumption of fish, we compute 8 x 10-3 uc/kg as the maximum 
permissible concentration of Sr9 in fish. 
3. Next, having the maximum permissible concentration of a 
nuclide in fish and the concentration factor achieved by fish for the 
nuclide we compute the maximum permissible concentration for the 
nuclide in sea water. Again using Sr90 as an example, the maximum 
permissible concentration in fish of 8 x 10°3 uc/kg, combines with a 
concentration factor of 10, assuming the density of fish to be 1.0, to 
give a maximum permissible concentration in sea water of 8 x 10-4 uc/ 
liter or 8 x 10°77 uc/ml, which by coincidence is identical with the MPC 
value in drinking water. 
4. These computations are summarized by the relationship: 
IMMMEXC; se 1D) SS IEISNG) aie 48 Se 1 
where: 
MPC = maximum permissible concentration in 
drinking water (yc/ml) 
D = volume of water drunk per week, taken 
as 15,000 ml 
PSC = permissible sea water concentration (uc/ml) 
f = concentration factor by the organism 
F = weekly consumption of fish, taken to be 1.5 
kg, and assuming a density of 1.0, to be 
equivalent to 1,500 ml. 
Computations, outlined above, have been made for a number of 
radionuclides, including the major isotopes shipped from ORNL, as well 
as several of the more hazardous fusion product elements. These com- 
putations are summarized in Table V. 
POSSIBLE CONFLICTS WITH OTHER INTERESTS 
Commercial Fisheries 
Many areas along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States 
have well developed, active fisheries. The disposal of radioactive wastes 
in these areas might be objectionable, not only because of the possibility 
27 
