OFFICIAL USE ONLY NRDL MARSHALL ISLAND RESURVEY - 1956 RESULTS OF ANALYSES PERFORMED AT HASL During February of 1956 a survey team from the U. S. Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory collected samples of marine life, land plants, water and soil, and lagoon and ocean water on or near selected islands in the Marshall group. Some of the col- lected samples were sent to HASL for fission product analysis. In some cases portions of specimens were retained at NRDL for interlaboratory cross-checking purposes. <A complete listing of samples received including those selected for analysis is given in Table l. The marine, water, and urine samples were received in good condition but many of the vegetation specimens were in a severe state of decay upon arrival at HASL. Furthermore, some samples were received unsealed so that the contents had leaked out and were on the outside of their own and other containers. It was felt that this could be a source of cross contamination in addition to the loss of the leaking samples. (1) For this reason and because of limited time and manpower, only selected samples were subjected to analysis. However, all of the marine and vege- tation samples received (with the exception of coconut shell) were wet-ashed using nitric acid, diluted to known volumes, and stored . sh -~1- pac? 2 ny oO i