me eree ee ee were sampled. A broader sampling pro- of other program demands for air sam- gram based upon the widely available pling equipment resulting from delays natural species, Messerschmidta and in fielding the Bikini survey, no Seaevolta, was also carried out to attempt was made to establish an air determine the intra-island variations sampling program during this survey. in the radioactivity of the vegetation. Soil profiles were obtained from the root zone of each tree that SAMPLE PROCESSING Was sampled to determine the concentration of radioactivity in the rootsoil environment. Both leaves and in June, nearly 1000 samples including fruit were sampled so that leaf—to- soil, vegetation, animals, and water Fruit concentration ratios could be were returned to LLL for processing calculated. and analysis. WNonfood species were sam- Because of funding pled in the vicinity of food species problems, the processing of the sam- to provide information on species var- ples was not begun until late Septem-— ‘dation in radionuclide uptake and to ber; processing was completed by early evaluate the use of concentrations in November 1975. nonfood species when no food products discussed in detail in Ref. are available for analysis to predict time required to analyze these samples the impact of human intake. was considerable and was incorporated This Sample processing is 3. The approach was developed in the Enewetak into a priority framework involving survey because of the paucity of food other programs. species on the atoll. problems prevented analysis of all The soil sam In addition, funding pling results and the concentration samples, so time was required to and correlation factors developed from establish priorities for samples that the plant-soil data have been published were sent for analysis. as a separate report.> available and as assessment activities This program along with the ground As data became began, additional samples that were of- water program supplies the data base particular importance for assessment for assessing the long-term dose com- purposes were identified. mitment via food chains and rehabita- additional funding became available in tion of the atoll, the summer of 1976, BIKINI AIR SAMPLING AND RESUSPENSION MEASUREMENT PROGRAM samples were sent for analysis and Because of limited support facilities, manpower, and time and because hy Upon completion of the field survey 5009957 When limited second priority incorporated into our assessment. Our data bank for the samples that were analyzed was completed in October ]976.