SUMMARY

Problem

The problem was to determine the amount and distribution of radioactive material remaining on several atolls and incorporated into the
flora and fauna of the Marshall Isiands one year after their contamina-

tion 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
RulRh, No fractionation of Sr89-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!9’_ The island soil and lagoon water were contaminated
principally by the rare earth elements, Ru!®_ Rh! and Zr¥_-Nb*®, The
amount of activity in the specimens analyzed was generaily proportional
to the external gamma reading in each of the areas.

1il

Select target paragraph3