A and the habitations. . GXMETRY Cr THE UXPOSURE Time does not permit a discussion of the effect of this but it has been eluded to earlier and details of the influence of geonetry of the exposure to biolozic effect are in references (1,17). SUPERFICIAL DOSES CF RADIATION FHM BESTA AND SCFT GAMMA RADIATION There is no doubt that the dose of radistion to the first few millimeters of the skin is substentially higher than thet at the nidline of the body from the more pénetrating cama component. Problems concerned with the estimation of the dose of radiation to the skin are discussed in detail in reference 1, chapter 1. To arrive at some physical estimate of the skin dose andtenpt mist be made to add up the contributions of the nenetrating gamma, the less penetrating gamma, the beta bath to which the individuals were exoosed from the relatively uniform . deposition of fission products in the enviroment and the point contact source of moterial deposited on the skin. By al] means the largest component of skin irradia~ resulted from the spotty local deposits of fallout material on exposed surfaces of the body, It is completely inpossibleto estinate the doze from meterial that was doposited on the skin, The relative hazard of the beta bath is discussed in detail in the previously mentioned reference (1). CLINICAT CRSERVATICNS AND TREVIMSUT SYPTCUS AND SIGNS RELATED TO RADIATION INJURY Itehinsg and burning of the skin occurred in 28% of the people on Rongelap, 20% of the group on Ailinginae and 5% of the Americans, referable to the skin in the individuals on Utirik, There were no symptoms In eddition to the itching of the skin there was burning of the eyes and lacrimation in people on Rongelap and Ailinginae, It is probable that these initial skin symptoms were due to ir radiation since al] ‘ndividuals who experienced the initial symptons later developed unquestioned radiation injuced skin lesions that will be descxefbed in detail DOE ARCHIvEs “3

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