40 EFFECTS OF IONIZING RADIATION ginning approximately 2 to 38 weeks after exposure, on skin areas contaminated with fallout. Bluish-brown pigmentationof the fingernails was also a commonfinding. No primary or secondary erythema was observed and consistently the first evidence of skin damage was increased pigmentation in the form of dark brown to black macules, papules, and raised plaques. The lesions developed largely on the exposed parts of the body not protected by clothing, and occurred usually in the following order: scalp (with epilation), neck, axillae, antecubital fossae, feet, limbs, and trunk. Epilation and lesions of the scalp, neck, and foot (dorsal surface) were the most common. The majority of lesions were superficial without vesicle formation, and after simple dry desquamation healed and repigmented. Approximately 20 percent of the people in the highest exposure group developed deeper lesions, usually occurring on the feet or neck and characterized by wet desquamation with ulceration. Mild burning, itching, and pain accompanied the lesions. The majority healed rapidly with non-specific therapy. Residual pigment aberrations consisting of hyperpigmentation and lack of repigmentation and mild atrophic changes were noted in some deeper healed lesions at six months and one year. Regrowthof hair, normal in color and texture, began about 9 weeks post-exposure and was complete at 6 months. Biopsies of typical lesions at 3 to 6 weeks showed changes consistent with radiation damage with marked epidermal damage and muchless severe dermal damage. Biopsies at 6 months showed only a few residual changes. Thenail discoloration had “grown out” completely at 6 months in all but a few individuals. Bibliography 1. Henriques, F. W., Jr. Effect of beta rays on the skin as a function of the energy, intensity, and duration of radiation, J. Lab. Investigation 1: 153, 1952. 2. Glendenin, L. E. Determination of the energy of beta-partiecles and photons by absorption, Nucleonices 2 (1): 12-82, 1948, . Warren, Shields. Effects of radiation on normal tissues, -treh. Path, 35: 304-353, 1943. . Paysinger, J., Plumleo, M. P., Sikes, D.. West. J. L.. Comar, C. L., Hansard, S. L., Hobbs, CC. S.. and Hood, 8S. L. Fission product retention and pathology of Alamogordo cattle, AEC Report UTAEC-1, 1953. . Major Activities in Atomic Energy Programs, JulyDecember 1953. United States Atomic Energy Commission, 15th Semiannual Report, Jan. 1954, p. 50. . Knowlton, N. P., Leifer E., Hogness, J. R.. Hempelmann, Louis H., Blaney, Loren F., Gill, Dan C., Oakes, William R., and Shafer, Charles L. Beta ray burns of human skin, J. .t. VW. A. 1412 239-246, 1949. . Robbins, Laurence L., Aub, Joseph C., Cope, Oliver, . Cogan, David G., Langohr, John L., Cloud, R. W., and Merrill, Oliver E.: Superficial “burns” of skin and eyes from scattered cathode rays, Radiology 46: 1-23, 1946. . Crawford, Stanley. Leonard or cathode “ray” dermatitis, Arch. of Dermat. and Syph. 27: 579583, 1933. oxternal therapeutic use of . Low-Beer, B. V. A. radio phosphorous, 1, Erythema studies, Radiology 47: 218, 1946. 10. Wirth, J. E., and Raper, J. R. external beta Biological effects of radiation, Chap. 12, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., First Edition, New York, 1951. 11, Koyama, Y., et al., Iryo (published by Iryo Dokokai, Medical Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan). 9%: No. 1, 5-45, Jan. 1955. 12, MacKee, G. M., Cipollaro, A. C., and Montgomery, H.M. X-ray and radiumtreatment of diseases of the skin, Fourth edition, Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, 1947. 13. Wilhelmy, Ernst. Ueber die Reaktion der Haut auf Langwellige Roentgenstrahlen und Kathodenstrahlen, Strahlentherapie 55: 498-523, 1936. 14. Harris, M., Leddy, E. T., and Sheard, C. Spectrophotometric analysis of color of skin following irradiation by roentgen rays, Radiology 19: 233-256, 1932. . Halkin, H. Ueber der Kinfluss der Becquerelstrah- len auf die Haut, Arch. Dermat. u. Syph. 65: 201220, 1903. 16. Goldberg, S. V. Cited in Das Radium in der Biologie und Medizin by London, J. 8S., Leipzig, 1911, p. 56. . Bloom, W., and Bloom, M. A. Radiation Biology, VoL I, Part II, p. 1119, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, 1954.