MEDICAL ASPECTS OF FALL-OUT FROM BRAVO
1.
Medical evaluation of personnel exposed to the radiation from
fall-ont in case of BRAVO depends to a great extent upon the accuracy with
This ia particularly true inaamch as Rongerik calculations were in good
agreement with observed film badge data on personnel there.
2.
aye
mahen
automatic recording instruments, it seems plausible to conclude, after
gaking allowance for factors giving maxigmm values of tims and intensity,
that personnel were not exposed to dosages mich higher than calculated,
io!
which dosage can be computed. Based upon extrapolation of fall-out tims
from Rongerik data where the fall-out time was precisely determined by
The association of symptoms with a given dosage may lead to er=
ronecus conclusions since such tabular relationships have been devised
-
§-
Considering the personnel involved in exposure to radiation thay
can be grouped according to location:
ae
Eonge
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Twenty-eight Americans were exposed showing film badge readings ranging from 40 to 98 roentgens during a period of 28.5 to 35 hours.
They were evacuated to Kwajalein... It was not expected that any of these
wen would develop any subjective symptoms. One admitted to feeling badly
until reassured after which he adritted that his feeling was probably
psychological. First blood counts taken on D plus 1 showed a normal distribution.
Generalized loss of hair which usually occurs after 10 days
with sufficient dosage was not expected and has not occurred to date.
Levels of persommel contamination were not exceedingly high and inasmach
as decontarination was performed on D plus 1, beta burns are unlikely.
Hee omarseecoke ins
received.
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~_ ow
he We may draw certain conclusions, however, which seez to be sound
concerning immediate prognosis based upon the doses believed te have been
nears
FS. baie
liable.
od
With respect to natives, due to the language difficulty, it was
See Jares
3.
extranely doubtful that information obtained by questioning would be re=
or
Mean ec Ot sda
rate characteristic of fall-ont.
i
one
only for whole body penetrating radiation given over a period of a few
minutes. It is now generally believed that the symptoms in those tabuletions will appear with a emnaller dose than indicated. These personnel may
develop signs or symptoms out of proportion to what would have previously
been expected but conld be somewhat tempered by the relatively slow dose