/ -]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