RERF to analyze effects of A-bombing on health of second-generation survivors by utilizing health-exam data collected since 2010
Jul. 26, 2022
by Junji Akechi, Staff Writer
On July 25, the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF; located in Hiroshima’s Minami Ward) announced it would undertake new statistical analysis using data obtained from health examinations of second-generation A-bomb survivors that were conducted until the end of 2020. The analysis is designed to investigate the connection between disease in the second generation of survivors and their parents’ exposure to radiation from the atomic bombing. Introducing the latest statistical methodology, the scientific organization will conduct the analysis over a period of about one year.
The analysis will examine how A-bomb radiation exposure of the parents affects three different diseases: hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. It will eliminate from analysis the factors that are unrelated to the parents’ A-bomb radiation exposure, including lifestyle and level of concern about illness, as well as incorporate the data of those who stopped participating in the health exams due to disease or death. The latest statistical techniques involved in the correction of bias will be adopted for the analysis.
On July 20, RERF held a closed-door meeting of the third-party group known as the Scientific and Ethics Committee for the Clinical Study of the F1 Offspring of A-bomb Survivors. At the meeting, the committee approved a plan defining the new analysis methodology and data to be used in the announced analysis. At the earliest, results from the new analysis could be reported at the next committee meeting, scheduled to be held next year, 2023.
RERF conducted a study looking into the health of the second-generation A-bomb survivors during the period 2000–2006. After analysis of the study results, no data correlating risk of disease to parental A-bomb radiation exposure were found. Health exams for second-generation survivors have been conducted once every four years since 2010. The organization concluded that full-scale analysis would be possible because the necessary number of cases for study of the three diseases has been collected. Waka Ohishi, chief of RERF’s Department of Clinical Studies, remarked, “This is an important study. We will make utmost effort to analyze the data and reveal the reality to the extent we are able.”
(Originally published on July 26, 2022)
On July 25, the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF; located in Hiroshima’s Minami Ward) announced it would undertake new statistical analysis using data obtained from health examinations of second-generation A-bomb survivors that were conducted until the end of 2020. The analysis is designed to investigate the connection between disease in the second generation of survivors and their parents’ exposure to radiation from the atomic bombing. Introducing the latest statistical methodology, the scientific organization will conduct the analysis over a period of about one year.
The analysis will examine how A-bomb radiation exposure of the parents affects three different diseases: hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. It will eliminate from analysis the factors that are unrelated to the parents’ A-bomb radiation exposure, including lifestyle and level of concern about illness, as well as incorporate the data of those who stopped participating in the health exams due to disease or death. The latest statistical techniques involved in the correction of bias will be adopted for the analysis.
On July 20, RERF held a closed-door meeting of the third-party group known as the Scientific and Ethics Committee for the Clinical Study of the F1 Offspring of A-bomb Survivors. At the meeting, the committee approved a plan defining the new analysis methodology and data to be used in the announced analysis. At the earliest, results from the new analysis could be reported at the next committee meeting, scheduled to be held next year, 2023.
RERF conducted a study looking into the health of the second-generation A-bomb survivors during the period 2000–2006. After analysis of the study results, no data correlating risk of disease to parental A-bomb radiation exposure were found. Health exams for second-generation survivors have been conducted once every four years since 2010. The organization concluded that full-scale analysis would be possible because the necessary number of cases for study of the three diseases has been collected. Waka Ohishi, chief of RERF’s Department of Clinical Studies, remarked, “This is an important study. We will make utmost effort to analyze the data and reveal the reality to the extent we are able.”
(Originally published on July 26, 2022)
