432 PALrULS BRA Be 8k eee ee first done on the 22nd day were slightly so the control population. A significanttrend i values after ‘this time could not be detected statistically. The less- exposed island groups showed similar, but in most cases less pronounced, hematological change the talities would have resulted. The skin and internal radioactive contamination were considered not to have con- tributed significantly to the depression of the hematologi- cal elements. The body weight of individuals in the Rongelap and Ailinginae groups was followed routinely. Adults as well as children lost some weight during the period of ob- servation in spite of the fact that they livedinactive lives and ate heartily. Whether the failure to gain weight was connected with radiation or change in environment is open to question. Four women in the Rongelap group were pregnant when brought to Kwajalein. None of these women had abnormal symptomsreferable to radiation. All of the pregnancies have since terminated in delivery of apparently normal babies. Fig. 3.—A, epilation in 7-year-ofd girl at 28 days. Bisix months later, showing compiete regrowth of hal, The time course of hematological changes corresponded mostclosely with the low-dose Japanese groups exposed to radiation from the Hiroshima and Nagasaki 7 bombs* in which definite signs of re radiation exposure were present in some individuals but in which no. mortality occurred. Comparison with hema- Fig. 4—-A, pigmented lesions of mock and al fossse ta 13year-old boy (29 days after exposure). Desquamation depigmentation days after expoture, en |ners Muons W@ lbavarld vor a 4 days after exposure tological data in Japanese groups in which fatalities oc- curred make it probable that exposure iff the highest exposure group of Marshallese was mod ately severe, probably within 50 to. 100 r of the level where some fa- 3. LeRoy,’ G. V.: Hemstolony of Atomic Bomb Casualties, Arch. Int, Med, 861691 (Nov.) 1950. Oughterson, A. W., and others: Medical tomic Bombs, report of the Joint Commission for Iavenigationof the Edfects of the Atomic Bomb ia Japea, vol. 3 sad 3, Comeniseion 1931 ‘ widespread lesions of the skin in'90% of the Rongelap group, beginning about 12 to 14 days after the exposure. In the: ess:‘heavily exposed groups - (Ailinginse and of Patnelony. 4. Kaowitoe, N. Po Jt and others: Beta Ray Boras of Howe Skia, J. a ‘A. 141: 299. (Sept. 24) 1949. L. Le sndothers: Superficial “Boras”.of tie Stin sad Eyeg, from Acattered Cathode Rayne Ragoiony 46:1, 1946. Low-Beer, .Extersal Therapeutic Use of Redicective Phowboroms:te Erythema-modles, tld: 474213,:946 Wirt, J. B.,ahd Raper, 3. Rs cuamer 12, In Blological Eft SKIN LESIONS AND EPILATION Irradiation of the skin resulted largely from beta radiation from the fall-out material deposited on the skin. Due to the complex composition of the radioactive materials, and because of other uncertainties, it was impossible to calculate the skin dose accurately. The dose was sufficiently large, however, to produce epilation and Rateraal Bote edhed E. Zidie, of. 1, New York, McCrewiil Book Company,’ Inc, 1951. protected by clothing. Those:who . remained under ' shelter during the. fall-out developed less severe or no lesions.Some protection was afforded those who.bathed.