-7- due to their proximity to the test sites. If this hypothesis is correct, an increase in levels in Pu could be related to the absorption from soil, food snd water of the contaminated island, or perhaps absorption directly from exposure to the fallout following the detonations during the testing program. This is the reason for study of environmental samples and urine from people of remote Marshall Islands. A comparison of the urinary levels in Marshallese born after the 1958 huclear weapon testing moratorium compared with those living during the testing progrsm may be of help in this regard and such a study has been initiated. It is important to determine the source and route of absorption of Pu in the Marshallese. Gastrointestinal absorption via the food chain would seem to be much less important than the inhalation route. Plant foods grown on Bikini Island have had very low levels of Pu and this is probably largely from contamination on the outside of the fruit. Low levels of the nuclide are present in livestock and greater amounts in coconut crabs, but both of these are minor sources of food. also has low levels of 239-240PU . Marine life From these findings and the reputed very low level absorption of Pu from the G.I. tract, absorption of 239-240PU from the food chain would appear to be a minor source of contamination. With regard to the inhalation route, only limited data are available on 239-240PU ad 241 Am levels of Bikini soil and resuspended dust analysis. Recent, limited data indicate that soil levels in 1970-1975 for Pu ranged from 3 to 43 p Ci/g. The Eniwetok task group established 40 p Ci/g for soil in a safe upper level. able amounts of Table VII). Limited air sampling indicates barely detect- 239-240 Pu resuspended in the air on Bikini island (see A comprehensive year around air sampling program is currently being scoped to begin in the northern Marshalls next year. The dust