450°C for approximately 72 h. The ash was then homogenized and the necessary aliquots were packaged, labeled, and forwarded for analysis. Marine Sediment Duplicates Marine sediment samples were processed somewhat similar to soil. After being wet weighed, they were dried in ovens at 90°C, reweighed, and then homogenized with a shaker-type ball mill. Aliquots were taken, the samples appropriately packaged and labeled, and then forwarded for analysis. EVALUATION OF DATA A high degree of compliance with our QC criteria was achieved in this project. Over 83% of the samples analyzed were found acceptable for dose calculations. As shown in Table 8, 97% of the 10,685 analyses requested of EAL, 45% of the 4,152 analyses requested of EIC, and 98% of the 1,445 analyses requested of LRE were accepted. The reproducibility of the analyses is particularly apparent in Figs. Al-A45 (Appendix) that show most of the data clustered about an ideal line. The DCDs that are unacceptable do not meet the QC standards and are not certified to be used for dose assessment. Table 8. Summary of the Northern Marshall Islands Radiological Survey radiochemical analyses. Laboratory Number requested Number accepted 10,685 10,379 Environmental Analysis Laboratory Eberline Instrument Corporation 4,152 1,863> Laboratory of Radiation Ecology 1,445 1,410 16,282 13,652 TOTAL ® Includes duplicates and standards. b Approximately 38% performed by Environmental Analysis Laboratory. i 12