quality control program;
the data bank;
and
the estimated dose
from all
the
exposure pathways for each atoll (i.e., external gamma, marine, drinking water,
terrestrial, and inhalation).
SAMPLE COLLECTION PROCEDURES
TERRESTRIAL SAMPLES
The
primary
purpose
of
the
field
collections
was
first,
to
take
a
representative sample of the locally grown food supplies available to the local
populations and second, to determine the radionuclide concentrations in animals
and plants relative to soils for an entire island and atoll.
When
sampling
an
inhabited
atoll
or
one
used
for
agriculture,
DOE
representatives arranged for purchase of local food items to be used as samples.
In most cases,
local residents were hired to assist LLNL field crews in their
collection.
Representative
samples
of
available
local
food
supplies
consisted
livestock, food grown in gardens, and food plants adjacent to the village.
samples were taken in the root zone of all food plant samples.
of
Soil
Coconuts are the
most common and abundant of the food plants and therefore became our indicator
species.
To determine relative radionuclide concentrations for the rest of an
island or for uninhabited islands,
on random grid patterns
coconuts were collected along transects or
to obtain samples
from the
total
island
area.
When
found by field teams, coconut crabs, Pandanus, breadfruit, and Tacca (arrowroot )
were collected along with the coconuts.
All vegetation and animal samples were
frozen aboard ship and returned to LLNL for processing and analysis.
Vegetation and Animal Sampling
In nearly all cases,
plants
representing
collected
plant
different
in greater numbers
samples
elements
than
collected were
of
others
quantities ‘and usually constituted a more
the
the edible
local \diet.
because
they were
Some
portions
plants
present
in
Pandanus, breadfruit, banana, Morinda, and squash.
leaves from Scaevola, breadfruit,
collected.
Pisonia,
4
were
larger
significant part of the diet.
majority of the vegetation samples collected were fruits of coconuts,
of
The
papaya,
Roots of Tacca and taro and
and Messerschmedia trees were also