STUDIES OF THE MORTALITY OF A-BOMB SURVIVORS. 2. MORTALITY IN SELECTIONS I AND II, 1950-1959
The joint Japanese National Institute of Health- Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission (JNIH-ABCC) mortality study was based on a sample of about 100,000 persons consisting of survivors exposed within 2500 m of the hypocenter plus distally exposed and nonexposed comparison groups. The report was based on observation from October 1950 to September 1959 of the first two groups selected for the study, numbering more than 90,000 persons. Each person included in the study was the subject of field interview to obtain required background information and to determine eligibility. Total mortality rates are not grossly different as between survivors exposed at different distances, but nonexposed persons, particularly males, have much lower mortality rates than do exposed persons. In large measure this difference is attributable to much lower mortality from tuberculosis. It appears that, for the period exposed an unsuitable comparison group. Leukemia mortality rates calculated from the present data confirm the well-known facts as to the leukemogenic effects of radiation from the atomic bombs on survivors. The results, on the whole, are not dissimilar from data previously published by ABCC investigators but do differ in some details, presumably as a result of diagnostic inaccuracies on the death notices. Mortality from malignant neoplasms other than leukemia differs in major ways from what would be expected from the analysis of the Hiroshima Tumor Registry by Harada and lshida. Instead of a general increase of rather large magnitude in tumors of all sites among heavily irradiated survivors, an effect of moderate magnitude (though quite definite) is found among Hiroshima females. This effect is attributable almost entirely to increased frequencies of cancer of the stomach and of the uterus. No effect is seen in Hiroshima males or in either sex in Nagasaki. The effect seems not to be related to the existence of a history of symptoms of acute radiation injury. No interpretation of the finding is offered at this time. Definitely increased death rates for aplastic anemia were found, especially in Nagasaki, and attributed to diagnostic difficulties in distinguishing between this disease and leukemia. Mortality from tuberculosis was elevated among male survivors exposed within 1400 m in both cities, especially in Hiroshima. No explanation of this finding is presently available. There is a suggestion that both males and females aged 5 to 9 at observation may have suffered some excess mortality in the 1950--1959 period. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- National Inst. of Health and Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission, Japan
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-18-015875
- OSTI ID:
- 4060774
- Journal Information:
- Radiation Res., Vol. Vol: 21; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-64
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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