140
THE SHORTER-TERM BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS OF A FALLOUT FIELD
figures 2,3, 4, and 4 illustrate typrenl lesions
in the Marahatlese people.
lnconclusion Ewould file to sumimerize a fow
things we fave learned about the cifeets of
fallont on (he skin, largely as oa result of our
Marshallese experience :
1. The best) prophylactic measure, of
course, is avoiding getting the fallout on the
’-
Tiaune 4.—Epilation in 7-year old girl al 28 daya.
Care No.
.
Fraunn 2.
Beta radiation lestana of the foetal 4 weras
after eeporure.
,
£
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:
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.
skin hy taking shelter or covering as much of
the body as possible with clothing. Prompt
:
.
‘
decontamination of the skin by thorough
scrubbing with soap or detergent and water is
of extremeimportance. Tf the hairis seriously
contaminated and difficulty is encountered in
decontamination, shaving of the head is
indicated,
In the Marshallese certain factors afforded
protection against the development of lesions:
Q1) Shelter, (2) Bathing, swimming, wading,
(3) Clothing.
FiGuRE 3.—Same case in Figure 2 at 6 months afler
.
expoaure.
72,
Certain factors also favored
the dovelopment of lesions: (1) As pointed
out areas where perspiration is moreprofuse,
(2) Delay in decontamination, and (3)
Difficulties in decontamination.
2. Moderately severe beta lesions of the
skin and epilation mayresult from fallout
situations in which the whole body penetrating dose of radiation is sublethal. With
such doses the skin lesions do not appear to
complicate the radiation syndrome.