Inhalation of beta radioactive isotopes may cause beta burns of lungs and nasopharyngeal region, ingestion may lead to burns of gastrointestinal tract; the latter being a risk especially for grazing animals. In first degree beta burns the damage is largely limited to epidermis. Dry or wet desquamation occurs; dry scabs are formed, then heal rapidly, leaving a depigmented area surrounded with irregular area of increased pigmentation. The skin pigmentation returns to normal within several weeks. Second degree beta burns lead to formation of blisters. Third and fourth degree beta burns result in deeper, wet ulcerated lesions, which heal with routine medical care after covering themselves with dry scab. In case of heavy tissue damage, ulcerated necrotic dermatitis may occur. Pigmentation may return to normal within several months after wound healing.Lost hair begins regrowing in nine weeks and is completely restored in about half a year.The acute dose-dependent effects of beta radiation on skin are as follows:
According to other source:
As shown, the dose thresholds for symptoms vary by source and even individually. In practice, determining the exact dose tends to be difficult. Similar effects apply to animals, with fur acting as additional factor for both increased particle retention and partial skin shielding. Unshorn thickly wooled sheep are well protected; while the epilation threshold for sheared sheep is between 23 and 47 Gy (2500–5000 rep) and the threshold for normally wooled face is 47–93 Gy (5000–10000 rep), for thickly wooled (33 mm hair length) sheep it is 93–140 Gy (10000–15000 rep).
The goal is to induce a brisk diuresis to prevent myoglobin precipitation and deposition, which can cause acute kidney injury. Mannitol can be added to assist with diuresis. Adding sodium bicarbonate to the IV fluids will cause alkalinization of the urine, believed to reduce the breakdown of myoglobin into its nephrotoxic metabolites, thus preventing renal damage. Often, IV normal saline is all that is needed to induce diuresis and alkalinize the urine. Epidemiology
See also
Pigmenturia

References
Further reading
Pedley, edited by Lewis P. Rowland, Timothy A. (2010). Merritts neurology (12th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 885. ISBN 978-0781791861. Retrieved 10 September 2015. {{cite book}}: |first1= has generic name (help)
Nyhan, edited by Georg F. Hoffmann, Johannes Zschocke, William L. (2010). Inherited metabolic diseases : a clinical approach. Heidelberg: Springer. p. 165. ISBN 978-3-540-74722-2. Retrieved 10 September 2015. {{cite book}}: |first1= has generic name (help)

External links

Overview on the Neuromuscular disease center website.