56 



TABLE 5.— CONCENTRATIONS OF SOME WASTE POLLUTANTS IN MARINE ORGANISMS' 



> The units are pCi per kilogram of wet biological material. 



The total of these materials estimated to be presently in the oceans 

 is 1 million curies, about 1,000 times less than the amount estimated 

 earlier as due to fallout from weapons testing. 



This will undoubtedly increase with the growth of the nuclear power 

 industry. One estimate indicates that in the year 2000, the radioactivity 

 in the sea attributable to the nuclear industry will about equal that 

 from fallout. 



On balance, it appears that the current pollution of the oceans by 

 long-lived radioactive species is relatively small compared to the nat- 

 ural levels. This should not be taken as a reflection of the biological 

 significance of the specific pollutants as they have Avidely ranging toxi- 

 cities. The degree of hazard must be evaluated taking into account 

 the probability of human exposure to each of the individual isotopes. 



Based upon predictions of the growth rate of nuclear reactors for the 

 production of poAver, the oceanic inventory of long-lived pollutants 

 from reactor-related operations, might be expected to increase by 100 

 to 1,000 times its present level. However, with already experienced and 

 anticipated technological advances in waste management, there is rea- 

 sonable expectancy that the inventory will not increase very much. 



The major unknown in the rapidly expanding nuclear energy field, 

 which could strongly affect the oceans, is the question of accidents; 

 accidents at the power station, in transport of fuel or wastes, at the re- 

 processing plants, or at the waste cemeteries. 



This is even more forcefully emphasized when we consider the prob- 

 ability of locating nuclear powerplants offshore, in or on the ocean. 

 Obviously, we have no answers to this. But it is also obvious that to 

 protect man, the environment must be protected; the greatest possible 

 vigilance must be exercised in these next few decades of the atom. 



Thank you, sir. 



Senator Holdings. Doctor, my memory might be a little hazy, but 

 I am trying to clarify the statement, perhaps made earlier to this com- 

 mittee, that it would be OK to locate nuclear powerplants offshore, 

 and Dr. Ramey testified that it presented no threat, and you differed 

 with that statement ? , 



Dr. VoLCHOK. No. I do not. 



I just make the point that we must worry about pollution on the 

 ocean as well as on land; and be very careful about accidents. 



Accidents in nuclear powerplants can be serious ; leaks can be very 

 serious. 



Senator Hollings. How many have we had in the last 5 years? 



Dr. Voi/HOK. I do not believe we have had any of significance. 



Senator Hollings. Dr. Folsom. 



Dr. FoLsoM. I work mostly in the open ocean but I would like to 

 make a point on coastal areas. 



