present at the time of exposure, who died 2 years
after the accident, (2) a 78-year-old man who
died, 3 years after exposure, of coronary heart disease complicating diabetes; and (3) a 36-year-old
man who died ofacute varicella, 4 years after exposure, who had received only 69 r, having been
radiation of the skin were seen in 12 cases which
showed varying degrees of pigment aberrations,
scarring, and atrophy at the site of the former
burns. Numerous histopathological studies have
been made,' '* and the changes found have been
consistent with radiation damage. At no ume have
on Ailingnae at the trme ofthe fallout. There was
changes beén observed either grossly or microscopno apparent relauonship between any of these
ically indicative of malignant or premalignant
deaths and radiation exposufe, and mortality in
changg. Spotty epikggson on the heads was short
lived, regrowth of|
“occurring about 3 months
the exposed group did not appearto be gregter
than in the unexposed population.
after exposure and complete regrowth of normal
It was difficult to evaluate the effects on fertility.
hair by six months. No further evidence ofepilaHowever, a number of apparently normal babies _
tion has been seen.
were born during the 4-yearperiod, and there hag** ©
An interesting observation was the appearance
of a bluish-browa, pigthentation of the semilunar
been no discernible fall in Gigah
A stightlyv ateas of the fingernails and toenails in about WAY
higher numberof miscarriages e¢c
Pin theexof the people, beginning about 3 weeks after expo”
posed women than in the ynexpose@ group; this
sure. By 6 months, this pigmentauon had largely
will be further evaluated in the present report. No
grown out with the nail and had disappearedwaopacities of the lens or other eye changes have
been found that could be related to radiation.
most cases. The cause of this phenomenon halt:
aq
Studies on height, weightingbone age seemed
beenplained, peet
on
ae
B
wane
to show a slight degree of fgpamiie
ean aEel
4
OF
and development in the ex ee rc
INTERNAL
IRRADIATION
ever, the small number of 2 ite ft tg
a later finding that exact a :
Radiochemical analyses of numerous urine
dren were in doubt, has resufted in @ re-evaluation
samples of the exposed population showedinternal
of these data based on more reliable age deterabsorption of radioactive materials, probably
minations.
brought about largely through eating and drinkBETA IRRADIATION REE SKIN
2 SF
It was impossible to get a
urate estimate of
the radiation dose to the skig. ta burns of the
skin and epilation appeared:ittagpt 2 weeksafter
exposure, largely on parts of
by clothing, About 90% of
burns, and a smaller num
epilation of the scalp.
ti@@ibdy
not covered
i g bas aes
aD
ihe
ing contaminated food and water andto a lesser
extent through inhalation. During the first few
days when the body levels were at their highest,
the maxffhugy permissible concentrations were ap=
proached 9Faii Uiggicceded only in the case-of
strontiug
fie ii sotopesof iodine. Theo6-
centrations
ieved to be too low to result.ie
any serious eff Rody ieveld fell rapidly, 830o that
gand 3
e
Mig
superticial, they exhibited jij
scaly desquamation, and *
little pain. Rapid healing
followed. Some lesions we
desquamation, and were gin
burns becamesecondarily SBeWed :
after careropervdtaias considered
treated with antibiotics. Re
lesions gradually took place in most instanésys
the skin appeared normal within a few wee.
However, in about 15% of the people,= a
lesions, particularly noted on the dors,
feet, continued to show lack ofte pgaiiiiamigs
with varying degrees of scarringar
the skin. At + years the only residual effects ofbeta
Mion, despite a per
lowdevel of
ftamesation) was reflected in a rise
‘burdensand increased urinary exMBionyclides. Beginning in
vel. :
aba! ysis! Fhig, along
pof urine samples, 5
dens of cesium-137 b
rontium-90 by a factor of{to”
20; and someincrease also in zinc-65, since the re-