RADIOACTIVITY IN MAN
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age data which are being obtained. None of the other aforementioned late changes have been observed in the Marshallese.
BETA BURNS
-
Cutaneous irradiation from the less penetrating components of
the fallout may result in beta burns and epilation of varying
severity. This is due largely to the fallout in direct contact with the
skin with a lesser contribution from the ground source. As the
name implies, beta radiation accounts for most of the skin dose
causing lesions since its energy is almost entirely absorbed in the
skin as compared with only a small percentage of the gamma
energy. The gamma dose alone would have to be supralethal to
Figure 3. Spotts epilation in boy, age 13, at 28 davs after exposure. Note scalp
lesions in area of epilation.