performed; use first any stored clear water and canned
or covered foods; wash and scrub any exposed foods.

2.

If the effects of lack of food and water become

quantities as possible.

vase

acute, then use whatever is available but in as limited

Whenever possible select what

f°

seems to be the least likely contaminated water and/or |
foodstuffs.
3.

Since it is especially desirable to restrict

the intake of radioactivity in children, give them first
preference for food and water having the lowest degree of
contamination.
In an area of heavy fallout one matter to consider is the relative hazards from the external gamma exposure versus internal doses from
ingestion of the material.

One of the best evidences on this point was

the fallout that occurred on the Rongelapese in March 1954.

Those in

the highest exposure group received 175 roentgens whole body external
gamma exposure yet their body burdens of interral emitters were relatively low.°%

These and other data suggest that:

If the degree of contamination of an area for several weeks
immediately following a nuclear detonation is such that the external
gamma exposure would permit normal and continuous occupancy, the
internal hazard would not deny it.

This is based on such reasonable assumptions of (a) about 50%
reduction of gamma exposure from out-of-doors doses afforded by living a

part of each day in normal family dwellings, (b) washing and/or scrubbing
——

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Select target paragraph3