are able to tolerate if not to enjoy were comparable. Although the levels . 7 20 of both Cs and Sr are low at these highly mineralized waters with no ill effects. Hence, can be tolerated, if che the water taste FWR 4, from the 1 the the 906, concentration exceeded 37 o. Level. Jn contrast, com- chemically acceptable wells could parison of the radionuclides be used for drinking by the Bikinians. Bikini groundwater shows that the However, that a recent study?> has shown Sr was either comparable to 137 the concentrations of some water components such as SO, Cl in some U.S. 4 in Na, Ca, and Cs or much lower. The two islands differ either with respect water supplies are the to the mechanisms regulating the cycling close to or within chronic toxicity of these two radionuclides or with limits respect to the relative inventories that could lead to weight 0 . loss, diarrhea in infants, urinary of 1376, and disease, supplying the water reservoirs. strong physiological effects, and arthritic conditions in humans. Sr in the sources On the average, 2.4% of the total Many of the same chemical constitu- Ilo. was found associated with the ents measured in the brackish and particulate material in the Bikini chemically acceptable wells on groundwater samples. Bikini and Eneu are close FPWR 4, limits defined in Ref. to the RADIONUCLIDES among 34% of the los At in the water is associated with particulate material. The radionuclide concentrations vary the fraction is similar to the average fraction at Fneu. 13. FWR 4, ENEU ISLAND: Except for This unusually high per- centage indicates the groundwater samples that this water collected from the Eneu locations. contains unique particulates having The 13766, a high affinity for eg, 906 and 239,240), The water at FWR 4 is of high concentrations show no obvious correlations with water freshness, quality, and the of radionuclides. 137 s/o osx ratios in the On At FWR 1, , for example, . Sr is higher in concentration than 3 Cs but is significantly lower water from FWR 3. centrations of U.S. The 906, Health Service limit of 10 pCi/litre. At FWR 2 the con- FWR lL has the next freshest ground- the two radionuclides water, -14- sUbUZE2 freshwater supplies. level is 34% of the U.S. Public than 137A. in both the surface and bottom The levels of those in the Bikini cisterns and in the . 137 and has low levels Oc, and 1376. are comparable to water show no apparent geographical patterns. however, but the Oc concentrations in