exposure day in the Rongelap group and was confined to the head, ‘The epilation was divided
arbitrarily into three degrees of severity. “1+” epilation indicates loss of hair without obvious
thinning; “2+” indicates a loss of hair sufficient to cause obvious thin spots; and “3+" indicates
an extensive epilation with bald spots. Table 3.1 illustrates that there was a greater degree of
epilation in the children (0 to 15 years). Over 90 per cent developed epilation of some degree
inthe 0 to 15 years group, compared to only 28 per cent in the older age group. The preponderance of sealp lesions in the areas of epilation indicates that radiation from the fallout ma~
Table Sh2
LESIONS IN ALLINGINAER AND HONGERIR GHOUPS
Allert rae
(1H people)
>
Himperik
(26 people)
ber Cent
Per Cent
Type of
a ‘Fotal
Mean Thine of
af ‘Totul
Mean Pine arf
Lesion
wilh Lastons
Apperrance*
with Lestons
Appearcnice*
1G.7
27
3u.9
26
61,0
0.0
22,2
27
Fpilation
3.51
42
Lesbons of.
Scalp & Face
10.7
32
24
4.3
7.1
3.5
30
28
23
L1.l
3.6
16.7
5.6
28
38
a3
44
25.0
3.5
3.5
0.0
29
47
43
T7.7
38
Neck and
Shoulders
Back
Axilia
.
.
Antccubital
Fossue
Hane & Wrist
Fect
Legs
Nail
Disc loration
17.9
.
40
{All Negroes)
* Days post-cxposure,
fOne case claimed slight epilation. Questionable.
terial on the skin is primarily responsible for the epilation. In the Ailinginae group only three
cases of mild epilation developed in children (Table 3.2).
Slight regrowth of hair was observed in all individuals nine weeks after exposure. Hair
regrowth was complete and normal six months after exposure.
3.4 NAILPIGMENTATION
An unexpected observation was the discovery of a bluish-brown pigmentation of the fingernails which was first well documented on the 23rd post-exposure day. The discoloration began
in the semilunar area of the fingernails (to a lesser extent in the toenails), and tended to spread
outward sometimes in streaks. As the discolored area grew outwards the semilunar area
usually became clear. In a few cases, detachment of the end of the nail from the nail bed was
observed when the pigmentation reached the end of the nail. Plate 3.17 shows pigmented bands
in the nails at 77 days. The discoloration of the nails was seen in 89 per cent of the Rongelap
and 78 per cent of the Ailinginae group. It appeared to be a radiation response peculiar to the
dark-skinned races since it was seen in all of the American Negroes in the Rongerik group and
in none of the while men. This lesion was not observed in the Utirik group nor in the control
Marshallese. Since the nail pizmentation occurred in individuals without skin lesions, it ap-
peared to be the resull of a more penetrating component of radiation than contact radiation
which predominantly produced the skin lesions,
sone
.
enteea
*
*hete
o
*
40