100

DASA 2019-2

showed about 50 to 80 percent around 100 keV and 2% to 50 percent

around 600 keV. So most of it was pretty soft. There wa: also a
beta contribution from the fallout or ic groucrd. It was estimated
that the feet got 7900 r fron ‘oc ground source; ai hip level about
600 and at head level, 360. The hair foi''cles uiust have gotten in
the range between 400 to 709 rada in view of the fact that epilation
developed but was not permanent in most cases. The internal radiation was calculated indirectly from urinalyses that were taken
starting about [5 days after the exposure and thereafter on numerous
occasions. [t waa estimated that about 75 percent uf the radiation
from fission products was due to the radiostrontium, radiobarium
and the rare earths.
Table 2 shows the various radioelements that were calculated to

be in the urine at Day ! as compared with Day 82. Probabty radio-

iodine is the only isotope that they absorbed that exceeded the MPC
level. By 82 days you will note that these activities had diminished

to practically zero.

very rapidly.

These people were able to sxcrete this materia)

Table 2. Estimeted body burden of Rongelap people (jr).
Activity ot

Activity at

Doy |

Oay 82

3°?

16-22

Ba

0.34 = 2.7

0.021

Rare Earth Group

O-1.2

0.03

au

9 = 0.013

140

U3" (in thyroid gland)

Co

45

Fessile Materiol

6.4-11.2

|

0.19
0.0

--

0- 0.019

0.0

0 ~ 0.016 (pgm)

0.0

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