Co The ocean water data indicate that activity is being washed off the islands. It will be noted also that the levels of activity correlate with the gamma-dose rates of the islands. Suchirregularities as do occur can be attributed to the ocean current movements around the islands. Lomuilal, for example, is in an exposed position and both the lagoon and ocean sides of the island are Swept by strong currents. The generally higher levels of activity on the lagoon side of the islands can be explained by the same reasoning. Since the rainy season had ended at the time the sample was collected, the actual mechanism by which the active material was being moved was probably associated with the changing level of water line due to tides. The lower gamma-dose rates observed below the high tide mark would support this hypothesis. The water from wells and exposed profiles represents the fresh water lens underlying the islands and Table 2.7 shows that they are contaminated. These data are of special interest since these lenses may be intermediate systems for transferring various nuclides from the soil to plants. The cistern water and other potable water supplies of less importance show varying degrees of contamination depending on such factors as the cleanliness of the reservoir, the nature of the watershed areas, and the presence or absence of shielding trees. The higher levels of activity found in the bottoms of cisterns are to be expected and these data are included only for comparative purposes. Tr DOE ARCHIVES -l2- 370 el Z/