Atomic Bomb Effect: Variation of Radiocarbon in Plants, Shells, and Snails in the Past 4 Years

The C/sup 14/ conient in sea mussels, land snails, fresh water mollusks, and algae was determined. The activities for both flesh and shell are tabulated as differences from the standard. As a check on the fractionation during growth, the C/sup 14/ conient was also measured. An increase of 4.3% in the C/sup 14/ content in the flesh of the land snail was observed between November 1953 and June 1957. There was only an increase of 1% in the shells. Isotopic fractionation and enviromnental differences are discussed. (J.S.R.)