/
-]2—
“4
s
and the habitations.
’
axrvirny CF TEE UXPOSURE
Time does not permit a discussion of the effect of this but it has been elwied
to earlier and details of the influence of geometry of the exposure to biolosic
effect are in references (1,17).
_
SUPERFICIAL DOSES CF RADIATION FHM RETA AND SOFT GAMMA RADIATION
There is no doubt that the dose of radistion to the first few millimeters of
the skin is substentially higher than thet at the nidline of the body fron the
more penetrating zamma component.
Problems concerned with the estimation of the
dose of radiation to the skin are discussed in detail in reference 1, chapter 1.
To arrive at sone physical estimate of the skin dose andtenpt must be made
to add up the contributions of the nenetrating gamma, the less penetrating gamma,
the beta bath to which the individuals were exnosed fron the relatively uniform
deposition of fission products in the enviroment and the point contact source of
moterial depositel on the skin.
Sy all means the largest component of skin firradia-
resulted from the spotty local deposits of fallout material on exposed surfaces of
tue body.
It is completely impossibleto estinate the dose from material that was
doposited on the skin.
The relative hazard of the beta bath is discussed in deteil
in the previously mentioned reference (1).
Gi TNICAT CRSERVATICNS AND TREATS
SYPTOMS 41D SIGNS REI ATED TO RADIATION INJURY
Ttchins and burning of the skin occurred in 28% of the people on Rongelap,
2C% of the group on Ailinginae and 5% of the Americans,
referndle to the skin in the individuals on Utirik.
There were no symptoms
In eddition to the itching
of the skin there was burning of the eyes and lacrimation in neople on Rongelap
and Ailinginae,
It is probable that these initial skin symptoms were due to im
radiation since al] tndividuals who experienced the initial symptons later devel-
oped unquestioned radiation iniuced skin lesions that will be descx*#bed in detail
DOE ARCHIVES