RADIOACTIVITY IN MAN
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tion hazards and their effects. There were eighty-two men, women
and children ofall ages, sixty-four of whom were exposed to 175 r
and eighteen to 70 r estimated whole body gamma exposure. In
addition manypeople suffered beta burns of the skin with epilation
and showed measurable amounts of radioactive materials internally
deposited. The three potential hazards will now be described—
with references made to the effects on the Marshallese.’
FALLOUT HAZARDS.
Penetrating Gamma Radiation
Acute Syndromes
Of the potential hazardsassociated with fallout, the most serious
is that of exposure to gamma radiation. Such exposure mayresult
in acute radiation syndromesand, if survival occurs, in late effects
of exposure. Large doses of radiation (thousands of roentgens
given ina short period of time) are known to produce a neurological syndrome characterized by disorientation, ataxia. convulsions,
vomiting. diarrhea and death within hours. However. this syndrome is not likely to occur in a fallout situation since the dose
accumulation (dose rate) would not be rapid enough; most likely
the next syndrome to be described would predominate.
Doses of 1000 r or more result in the gastrointestinal syndrome
which includes early persistent anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps anddiarrhea with dehydration. apathy and death
in 4 to 5 days. Death occurring before hemopoietic depression is a
prominent feature. However, with lower doses in the lethal range
(225 to 650 r?) the classical hematological radiation syndrome occurs and is marked primarily by depression of hemopoiesis with
the possible development of infectious processes from leukopenia
and immunological depression, hemorrhage and anemia from
platelet depression and later anemia from erythropoietic depression. Gastrointestinal symptoms of nausea. vomiting and diarrhea
? There were also twenty-eight American servicenien on Rongerik Atoll who re-
ceived an estimated 70 rand one hundied and fifty-seven Marshallese on Utirik
Atoll who received only about Hii r. In addition there were twenty-three Japanese
fishermen on the Lucky Dragon who were exposed to about the same dose as the
Ronegelap people (7).