Ve
present at the timeOPexposure, who died 2 vears
after the accidentya2 78-vear-old man who
radiation of the skin were seen in 12 cases which
ease complicating diabetes, and: 3) a 3o-vear-oid
burns. Numerous histopathological studies have
been made,':'’ and the changes found have been
consistent with radiation damage. At no time have
died, 3 vears after exposure. of coronarvheart disman who died of acute varicella. + vears after exposure, who had received only 69 r, having been
on Ailiggnae at the time ofthe fallout. There was
no apparent relationship between anyof these
deaths ind radiation exposure, and mortalityin
the exposed group did not appear to be greater
than in the unexposed population.
It was difficult to-evaluate the effects on fertility.
However, a numberof apparentiv normal babies
were born during the +-vear geriod, and there has
been no discernible fall in birth rate. A slightly
higher number of miscarriages occurred in the exposed women than in the unexposed group; this
will be further evaluated in the present report. No
opacities of the lens or other eye changes have
been found that could be related to radiation.
Studies on height,weight, and bone age seemed
to show slight
of retardation in growth
and development iin the exposed children. However, the small number ofchildren involved, and
a later finding that exact ages of some ofthe children were in doubt, has resulted in a re-evaluation
of these data based on more reliable age determinations.
me
BETA IRRADIATION OF THE SKIN
It was impossible to get an accurate estimate of
the radiation dose to the skin. Beta burns of the
skin and epilation appeare@ about 2 weeksafter
exposure, largely on parts.of the body noggovered
by clothing, About 90% of the people had these
showed varying degrees of pigment aberrations,
scarring, and atrophy at the site of the former
changes been observed either grossly or microscopicaily indicative of malignant or premalignant
change. Spotty epilation on the heads was short
lived. regrowth of hair occurring about 3 months
after exposure.and complete regrowth af normal
hair bv six months. No further evidence of epil a-
tion has been seen.
An interesung observation was the appearance
of a bluish-brown pigmentation of the semilunar
areas of the Hngernails and toenails in about 90%
of the people, beginning about 3 weeksafter exposure. By 6 months, thig. pigmentauanhad largely
grown out with the nail andhad disappearedin
most cases. The cause of this phenomenon has not
been explained.
INTERNAL IRRADIATION
é
Radiochemical analyses of numerous urine
samples of the exposed population showed internal
absorption of radioactive materials, probably
brought about largely through eating and drink-
ing contaminated food and water and to lesser
extent through inhalation. During the first few
days when the bodylevels were at their highest,
the maximum permissible concentrations were ap-
proached or slightly exceeded only in the case of
strontium-89 and theisotopes of iodine. The con-
centrations were believed ta be too low toresult in
any serious effects. Body levels felFeapidly, so that
burns, and a smaller number developed spotty
by 2 and 3 years past exposure, they Were far below the accepted maximum permissible levely. by 6
epilation of the scalp. Mgt of the lesians were
superficial; they-exhibité#t pigmentation-and dry,
' gaopthsactivity in the urine wasbarely detectable.
scaly desquamagion, and were associated with
The-return of the Rongelapese to their home
little pain. Rapid h
g and repigmentation
«Jsland:(which after careful survey was considered
followed. Some lesiatlswere deeper, showed wet -~gafe fot habitation, despite a persisting lowlevel of
desquamation, and were more painful. A few
radioactive contamination) was reflected in rise
burns became secondarily infected and had to be". in their body burdens and increased urinary extreated with antibiotics. Repigmentation ofthe 5
,_ cpetiog. of certain: radionvwtlides. Béginning in
lesions gradually took place in mostinstances, and * 1957, gamma spectroscopyby use of a low-level
the skin appeared normal withia a few weeks.
. counting chamber was added to the techniques of
However, in about 15% of the people, deeper " radiotheinical analysis. This, along with radiolesions, particularly noted on the dorsum of the
chemical analysis of urine samples, showed an infeet, continued to showlack of repigmentation
crease in body burdens of cesium-137 by factors of
with varying degrees of scarring and atrophyof
up to 100 and of strontium-90 by a factor of10 to
the skin. At + years the onlyresidual effects of beta
20, and some increase also in zinc-65, since the re-
1185993