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1.

Reduce the use of cantaminated food and water to bare minimm

until adequate monitoring can be done; use first any stored clear water and
canned or covered foods; wash and scrub any contaminated foods and;
2.

If the effects of lack of food and water become acute, then use

whatever is available but in as limited quantities as possible.

Whenever

possible select what seems to be of the least likely contaminated water and/or
foodstuffs; and

3.

Since it is especially desirable to restrict the intake of

redioactivity 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 gamms exposure versus internal doses from ingestion of the material.

(Inhalation is thought to contribute only

relative minor doses under the conditions discussed here).

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 r whole-

body external gamma exposure yet their body burdens of internal emitters

were relatively low (Table Five).>

0

These and other data suggest that:

If the degree of contamination of an area is such that the
external gamma exposure would permit normal and continuous occupancy
after a fallout, the internal hazard would not deny it.

DOE ARCHIVES

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

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