Survivors Of Hiroshima Research Articles

Variants of red cell enzymes found in Japanese of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

In the course of our search for possible genetic effects of radiation among the children of A-bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we have obtained considerable electrophoretic data which clearly illustrate some of the genetic characteristics of the populations of both cities, which characteristics, however, have no relationship with radiation exposure of the parents. The frequencies of variants of phosphoglucomutase1 (PGM1) and glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI) were observed to be significantly higher in Nagasaki than in Hiroshima. As the difference in the frequencies of transferrin variants between two cities are also significant, it is apparent that the populations of the two cities are genetically different with respect to variation in certain protein systems.

Dose-Response Relationship of Neutrons and γ Rays to Leukemia Incidence among Atomic Bomb Survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki by Type of Leukemia, 1950-1971

The incidence of leukemia during 1950 to 1971 in a fixed mortality sample of atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki was analyzed as a function of neutron and ..gamma.. kerma and marrow doses. Two dose-response models were tested for acute leukemia, chronic granulocytic leukemia, and all types of leukemia, respectively. Each model postulates that the leukemia incidence depends upon the sum of separate risks imposed by ..gamma.. and neutron doses. In Model I the risk from both types of radiation is assumed to be directly proportional to the respective doses, while Model II assumes that whereas the risk from neutrons is directly proportional to the dose, the risk from ..gamma.. rays is proportional to dose-squared. The analysis demonstrated that the dose-response of the two types of leukemia differed by type of radiation. The data suggested that the response of acute leukemia was best explained by Model II, while the response of chronic granulocytic leukemia depended almost linearly upon neutron dose alone, because the regression coefficients associated with ..gamma.. radiation for both Models I and II were not significant. The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of neutrons in relation to ..gamma.. rays for incidence of acute leukemia was estimated to bemore » approximately 30/(Dn)/sup 1/2/ (95% confidence limits; 17/(Dn)/sup 1/2/ approx. 54/(Dn)/sup 1/2/) for kerma and 32/(Dn)/sup 1/2/ (95% confidence limits; 18/(Dn)/sup 1/2/ approx. 58/(Dn)/sup 1/2/) for marrow dose (Dn = neutron dose). If acute and chronic granulocytic leukemias are considered together as all types of leukemia, Model II appears to fit the data slightly better than Model I, but neither model is statistically rejected by the data.« less

Dose-response relationship of neutron and gamma rays to chromosomally aberrant cells among atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The quantitative relationship of the frequency of cells with radiation-induced chromosome aberrations in peripheral leukocytes in atomic bomb survivors has been evaluated as a function of gamma and neutron doses. Three different models have been examined; each assumes a linear or a non-linear response to gamma rays and a linear-response to neutrons. From the standpoint of the goodness of fit of these models, the model which “best” fits the data on the frequency of cells with radiation-induced chromosome aberrations is the exponit model, where the frequency of aberrant cells increases exponentially with dose. The goodness of fit for this model shows the frequencies of cells with any chromosome aberration or an exchange aberration to be dependent cubically on the gamma ray dose and linearly on the neutron dose. The result derived from the frequency of aberrant cells gives a conservative dose-response relationship. The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of neutrons for frequency of cells with any chromosome aberration is calculated to be 13 at 30 rad of neutrons, 6 at 100 rad, 3 at 300 rad and so on.

The risks for radiation workers

The following topics are discussed: recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection; methods for determining dose limits to workers; use of data from survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki for estimating risk factors; use of data from survivors of nuclear explosions in Marshall Islands, uranium miners, and patients exposed to diagnostic and therapeutic radiation; risk factors for radioinduced malignancies; evidence that risk factors for persons exposed to partial-body radiation and Japanese survivors are too low; greater resistance of A-bomb survivors to radiation; and radiation doses received by U.K. medical workers and by U.K. fuel reprocessing workers. It is suggested that the dose limit for radiation workers should be reduced by a factor of 5. (HLW)

Hiroshima survivors and the atomic bomb people's art as history

More than thirty years have passed since the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Despite the volumes that have been written about and photographs and documentaries made on the A-Bo...

Relationship between the radiation dose and chromosome aberrations in atomic bomb survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Radiation-induced chromosome aberrations were found to persist in cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes derived from Hiroshima and Nagasaki A-bomb survivors long after their radiation exposure. Earlier observations that the frequency of cells with chromosome aberrations increased in proportion with increasing dose in both cities were confirmed. However, in every dose group, the frequency of aberrant cells was consistently higher in Hiroshima than in Nagasaki. It is suggested that a higher neutron dose in Hiroshima than in Nagasaki may be a major component contributing to the difference in dose response between the two cities. Among the types of chromosome aberrations so far identified, reciprocal translocations were observed to predominate, and they played an important role in determining the dose-aberration relationship.

Mean bone marrow dose of atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The ratio of the mean bone-marrow dose to in-air tissue absorbed dose for survivers in Hiroshima and Nagasaki has been calculated with the aid of the Synder mathematical phantom, using depth dose curves in phantom. From this ratio, the mean bone-marrow dose has been estimated as a function of distance from the hypocenter. The ratios were corrected for the angular distribution of atomic bomb radiations. The resultant ratios are tabulated as a function of incident angles on an adult and a child (3-7 years old) survivor for gamma-rays and neutrons. As an example of the resultant mean bone-marrow dose, the adult survivors who were standing straight in open field at 1000 m from the Hiroshima hypocenter have been estimated to be exposed to 165 rads of initial gammarays, 32 rads of recoil protons, 14 rads of gamma-rays from 1H(n, γ)2D reaction and 0.9 rads of protons from 14N(n, p)14C reaction.

Radiation effects on cancer mortality among A-bomb survivors, 1950-72: comparison of some statistical models and analysis based on the additive logit model.

Various statistical models designed to determine the effects of radiation dose on mortality of atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki from specific cancers were evaluated on the basis of a basic k(age) x c(dose) x 2 contingency table. From the aspects of application and fits of different models, analysis based on the additive logit model was applied to the mortality experience of this population during the 22year period from 1 Oct. 1950 to 31 Dec. 1972. The advantages and disadvantages of the additive logit model were demonstrated. Leukemia mortality showed a sharp rise with an increase in dose. The dose response relationship suggests a possible curvature or a log linear model, particularly if the dose estimated to be more than 600 rad were set arbitrarily at 600 rad, since the average dose in the 200+ rad group would then change from 434 to 350 rad. In the 22year period from 1950 to 1972, a high mortality risk due to radiation was observed in survivors with doses of 200 rad and over for all cancers except leukemia. On the other hand, during the latest period from 1965 to 1972 a significant risk was noted also for stomach and breast cancers. Survivors who were 9 year old or less at the time of the bomb and who were exposed to high doses of 200+ rad appeared to show a high mortality risk for all cancers except leukemia, although the number of observed deaths is yet small. A number of interesting areas are discussed from the statistical and epidemiological standpoints, i.e., the numerical comparison of risks in various models, the general evaluation of cancer mortality by the additive logit model, the dose response relationship, the relative risk in the high dose group, the time period of radiation induced cancer mortality, the difference of dose response between Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the relative biological effectiveness of neutrons.

A. Health Surveillance Studies

The majority of studies of the A-bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki are concerned with monitoring the populations for long-term after-effects of exposure to ionizing radiation. Nonetheless, the health surveillance programs in the two cities must also be concerned with investigation of diseases which, though not directly related to radiation exposure, are of importance to the individual's overall health. This paper describes some examples of these investigations. Surveys focussing on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disorders, gastric cancer and liver disease yield important clinical and pathological data which contribute to an understanding of the natural history of disease, benefit the health of the survivors, and make possible comparisons within Japan and with populations elsewhere in the world. Laboratory determination of levels of various serum components provide normal base line values in a healthy ambulatory population. Cytogenetic investigations yield data about normal chromosome variation, basic for future environmental pollution monitoring. Blood group gene antigen distributions, prevalences of inherited serum and red cell protein variants, and the cytogenetic information provide comparative data for a projected study of the children of the exposed generation. In the course of these population surveys, a number of extremely rare (genetic) traits unrelated to radiation exposure, such as the hereditary lack of a tissue enzyme, an unusual blood type, mutant hemoglobins, have been discovered. These traits appear to have little or no impact on the individual's health, but are of potential intrinsic interest to clinicians, geneticists, and molecular biologists. It is obvious that the voluntary participation of the A-bomb survivors in the health surveillance surveys in the two cities constitutes an outstanding contribution to the understanding of disease in man.

On Death and the Continuity of Life: A Psychohistorical Perspective

Unlimited technological violence and absurd death have replaced sexual repression as an urgent theme for contemporary man. Psychoanalytic theory, developed during the late Victorian era, must be re-evaluated within the context of current historical forces. In attempting to understand the impact of extreme violence and mass death, the writer finds it more useful to speak of a process of psychic numbing rather than repression. This numbing process involves an impairment of the symbolization or image-forming function. Illustrative material is drawn from the writer's previous study of Hiroshima survivors, and in observations made in clinical work. The goal is to evolve psychohistorical theory adequate to the dangerous times in which we live.

Review of thirty years study of Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors. III. Future research and health surveillance. A. Health surveillance studies.

The majority of studies of the A-bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki are concerned with monitoring the populations for long-term after-effects of exposure to ionizing radiation. Nonetheless, the health surveillance programs in the two cities must also be concerned with investigation of diseases which, though not directly related to radiation exposure, are of importance to the individual's overall health. This paper describes some examples of these investigations. Surveys focussing on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disorders, gastric cancer and liver disease yield important clinical and pathological data which contribute to an understanding of the natural history of disease, benefit the health of the survivors, and make possible comparisons within Japan and with populations elsewhere in the world. Laboratory determination of levels of various serum components provide normal base line values in a healthy ambulatory population. Cytogenetic investigations yield data about normal chromosome variation, basic for future environmental pollution monitoring. Blood group gene antigen distributions, prevalences of inherited serum and red cell protein variants, and the cytogenetic information provide comparative data for a projected study of the children of the exposed generation. In the course of these population surveys, a number of extremely rare (genetic) traits unrelated to radiation exposure, such as the hereditary lack of a tissue enzyme, an unusual blood type, mutant hemoglobins, have been discovered. These traits appear to have little or no impact on the individual's health, but are of potential intrinsic interest to clinicians, geneticists, and molecular biologists. It is obvious that the voluntary participation of the A-bomb survivors in the health surveillance surveys in the two cities constitutes an outstanding contribution to the understanding of disease in man.

Review of thirty years study of Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors. II. Biological effects. G. Chromosome aberrations in somatic cells.

Evidence concerning cytogenetic effects of A-bomb irradiations on the somatic cells of survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is reviewed. It has been demonstrated that (1) radiation-induced chromosome aberrations have persisted in the circulating lymphocytes as well as in the bone marrow cells of survivors more than two decades after radiation exposure, and (2) that the chromosome-aberration frequency is in general proportional to the dose received. The relation, if any, between the occurrence of induced structural rearrangements of chromosomes and the health status of the survivors is as yet unknown, and the need for further and continued evaluation for possible associations between them is stressed.

Lung cancer at autopsy in a-bomb survivors and controls, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 1961-1970. I. Autopsy findings and relation to radiation.

Previous studies indicated there was a probable increase of lung cancer in atom bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In re-examination of this problem, lung cancer was found in 204 of 3778 autopsies on radiation exposed survivors and controls performed during 1961–1970. Using the W.H.O. classification, 32% were epidermoid, 19% small cell anaplastic, 29% bronchogenic adenocarcinoma, 9% bronchiolo-alveolar, and 11% other types of carcinoma. Small cell anaplastic carcinomas were definitely increased in irradiated persons compared to controls (relative risk 3.9; p < 0.5). Epidermoid and bronchogenic adenocarcinoma showed increased risk, but this was not statistically significant. In this entire series, 89% were 60 years old or older; 67% were in men with male:female ratios of 2.4:1 for epidermoid, 2.9:1 for small cell anaplastic, and 1.3:1 for bronchogenic adenocarcinoma. No data were available for a study of the possible effect of internal irradiation. An analysis of the effect of smoking and occupation on the interpretation of single dose whole body ionizing irradiation as a cause of lung cancer will be reported separately. Cancer 33:1580–1588, 1974.

John Hersey and the American Conscience: The Reception of "Hiroshima"

1 See especially the following works and their notes and bibliographies: Robert Jay Lifton, Death in Life: Survivors of Hiroshima (New York, 1967); Frank W. Chinnock, Nagasaki: Forgotton Bomb (New York and Cleveland, 1969); Walter Smith Shoenberger, Dicision of Destiny (Athens, Ohio, 1969); Gar Alperovitz, Atomic Diplomacy: Hiroshima and Potsdam-The Use of the Atomic Bomb and the American Confrontation With Soviet Power (New York, 1965); Len Giovannitti and Fred Freed, Decision to Drop the Bomb (New York, 1965); Herbert Feis, Atomic Bomb and the of World War II (Princeton, N. J., 1966). 2 Tale of Two Cities, prepared by the United States Army Signal Corps (1945); the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture, The Beginning or End (1947); a National Broadcasting Company documentary on the decision to drop the atomic bomb (1964-1965); and a documentary prepared by the Japanese, which was seized by American occupation authorities in 1945 and returned to the Japanese in 1967. Japanese television viewers saw an edited version of this documentary in 1968; a much briefer version of it appeared on American television in 1970. 3 John Hersey, Hiroshima (New York, 1946). Subsequent citations are from the Bantam Book edition, 1959.

Estimation of absorbed dose in thyroids and gonads of survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Estimation of absorbed dose in thyroids and gonads of survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Late gonadal radiation effects

Summary Acute radiation changes in the ovary and testis are reviewed and the one testicular study of late effects done at ABCC is reported in detail. Testicular tissue of atomic bomb survivors who came to autopsy was examined for evidence of radiation and aging changes. Survivors within 1400m. from the hypocenter were compared with distally and nonexposed subjects, using several histologic parameters. Statistical tests showed significant differences in the prevalence at death of tubular sclerosis and vascular hyalinization between Hiroshima survivors within 1400 m. from the hypocenter and control groups. Very significant (0.01

A Study of Aplastic Anemia in an Autopsy Series With Special Reference to Atomic Bomb Survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Abstract A study of the occurrence of aplastic anemia among atomic bomb survivors in Nagasaki and Hiroshima, Japan was made from a review of a series of 6327 autopsies from 1949 to June 1967 and the late effects of ionizing radiation were evaluated. There were 340 cases reviewed independently by a team of hematologists and pathologists. Of the 45 cases documented as aplastic anemia, 42 were definite and three were probable. Six additional cases were classified as probable. The cases were grouped into four categories depending upon the distance of the subject from the hypocenter at the time of the bomb (ATB). All patients fulfilled the requirement clinically of having pancytopenia. Bone marrow findings at autopsy from various sites revealed aplastic or hypocellular changes in 77.3%. The etiology in 42 cases was idiopathic, one case was drug-induced, one case received radiation for carcinoma of the cervix, and one case congenital in origin. No difference was noted in the exposed cases from the nonexposed. Of those who were exposed to 10 or more rad, the majority (four of five) died prior to 1955. On the basis of the data presented, there is no definite morphologic evidence that implicates ionizing radiation in the pathogenesis of aplastic anemia as a delayed complication of exposure in the A-bomb survivors.

Rheumatoid arthritis and gout in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan: A prevalence and incidence study

Observations of definite rheumatoid arthritis in a fixed population of 11,393 atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki for the period April, 1965 through December, 1966, based on a prospective study designed for specific detection of rheumatoid arthritis are reported. Routine complete physical examinations were performed on all persons in the sample. Screening procedures utilized in all subjects included: completion of a questionnaire and performance of ‘rheumatoid factor’ tests. When indicated by results of clinical and laboratory examinations, PA roentogenograms of the hands and wrists were obtained. A rheumatologist (ID) reviewed the medical records of all individuals in whom there was evidence to suspect rheumatoid arthritis. 1303 of individual patients whose earlier examinations indicated the need, were recalled for clarification, confirmation and classification of their disease. The time of onset of disease was also established. The prevalence rate of definite rheumatoid arthritis was 0.38 per cent for males and 0.65 per cent for females, over 20 years of age, and 0.55 per cent for both sexes. This prevalence rate for females was significantly lower than the age adjusted rate in a comparable population in Tecumseh, but this was not so for males. The incidence rate of definite rheumatoid arthritis was 0.07 per cent for males and 0.11 per cent for females per year. In this sample of Japanese, the prevalence rate of positive latex tube fixation tests for the rheumatoid factor was consistently higher than reported for the comparable Tecumseh, Michigan, population. Adequate explanation of this difference is not now available. The relationship between rheumatoid arthritis or rheumatoid factor and environmental factors such as education, occupation, and other physical findings such as level of serum uric acid and blood pressure was studied. No relationship was detected between prevalence and incidence of rheumatoid arthritis and exposure to radiation from the atomic bombs. The age-sex specific mean uric acid values for Japanese men and women were very similar to those in a Caucasian population. In this population survey, as reported in others, very few cases of gout were detected.

Leukemia in Atomic Bomb Survivors, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 1 October 1950-30 September 1966

The incidence of leukemia in fixed cohorts of atomic bomb (A-bomb) survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki cities has been analyzed for the period 1 October 1950-30 September 1966. Leukemogenesis has b...

Bone tumors among the atomic bomb survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

A study was made of 163 benign and malignant bone tumors found at autopsy and in surgical specimens in Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the period 1950–1965 in order to determine whether or not there is a relationship between atomic bomb radiation and formation of bone tumors.Twenty‐four bone neoplasms were found in a fixed population sample (the ST‐100 sample), and nine of these (7 malignant and 2 benign tumors) were encountered at autopsy. The prevalence rate for malignant bone tumors in the autopsies in the fixed sample was estimated to be 0.26%.No direct relationship was found between the frequency or type of bone tumor and exposure distance.The case histories of 5 proximally exposed persons who died of malignant bone tumors (2 osteosarcoma and 3 multiple myeloma) were described.