prespiration accumulated served to trap and retain particles of the radioactive dust.
Since the Marshallese used a coconut-oif hair dressing, it required a good detergent
and brush to adequately decontaminate the hair and head. When scrubbing with brushes
caused tenderness and soreness to other parts of the body, decontamination was achieved
by substituting cloth towels for washings.
4
a
a
Figure 4.1 Decontamination area, Naval Air Station, Kwajalein.
4.3
DECONTAMINATION OF CLOTHING AND OTHER PERSONAL POSSESSIONS OF
THE MARSHALLESE
The Marshallese had received a change of clothing which was voluntarily contributed
by the personnel at NAS, Kwajalein. Many individuals had, however, retained articles
of their own clothing. When surveyed on 11 March, the contamination of the clothing and
possessions, in use, was found to be spotty. The highest concentration of activity was
found in the children’s clothing, in trouser cuffs, seats of trousers (and areas of clothing which had obviously been in contact with the ground), shoes (inside and out), belts,
and combs.
The clothing of the Marshallese (not in use) was monitored 10—12 March and sepa-
rated into three categories.
use.
Clothing which read less than 1.0 mr/hr was returned for
Clothing which read 1.0 to 5.0 mr/hr was laundered several times and returned to
the natives on 17 April, when it read less than 1.0 mr/hr.
The clothing which read
more than 5.0 mr/br 11 March was kept until 3 May, at which time it read less than
1.0 mr/hr. Prayer books and shoes were the last possessions returned for use.
The clothing of the 16 Marshallese who were evacuated by plane had not been
laundered arid still read approximately 100 mr/hr on 18 March.
the Kwajalein laundry failed to lower the counts appreciably.
to laundry water facilitated decontamination.
20
Repeated washings by
The addition of citric acid
:
a