SUMMARY Problem The problem was to determine the amount and distribution of radio- active material remaining on several atolls and incorporated into the flora and fauna of the Marshall Islands one year after their contamination by fallout from the March 1, 1954 nuclear detonation of Operation CASTLE. Findings Significant amounts of radioactive contamination were found in the Marshall Island animals, food plants, water and soil samples. The highest concentrations of internally deposited activity were found in marine specimens taken from the northern Rongelap lagoon. Most of the activity in the marine specimens was contributed by Zr”-Nb® and Rul6_Ry!%, No fractionation of Sr®9-Sr™ occurred in the tissue of the fish analyzed. Residual soil contamination was confined to the top several inches of soil, with movement indicated down to the lens water. The major radionuclide found in the tissues of land animals and plants was Cs'3’, The island soil and lagoon water were contaminated principally by the rare earth elements, Ru!$_Rh!6 and zr?®_-Nb*®, The amount of activity in the specimens analyzed was genera!!y proportional to the external gamma reading in each of the areas. DOE ARCHIVES ili