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