RERF to begin research on the effects of radiation exposure on arterial sclerosis and kidney diseases
Mar. 8, 2010
by Sakiko Masuda, Staff Writer
On March 5, the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF) announced that it will conduct research on the effects of radiation exposure from the atomic bombing on arterial sclerosis and kidney diseases in the new fiscal year starting April 1. RERF has made this decision based on a recommendation by the Scientific Council, an independent body comprised of 10 members. The council had been discussing RERF research for three days through March 5.
Takashi Yanagawa, the co-chair of the Scientific Council and a professor at Kurume University, and Toshiteru Okubo, chairman of RERF, held a news conference at the institute in Minami Ward, Hiroshima.
Based on research data which indicate that the higher the radiation dose, the higher the incidence of cardiac diseases and cerebral apoplexy as causes of deaths, RERF has decided to clarify the mechanism by conducting research on the correlation between the radiation dose and arterial sclerosis and kidney diseases, both of which could be the cause of cardiac diseases and cerebral apoplexy.
With regard to arterial sclerosis, the institute will conduct research for four years on about 4,000 A-bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In terms of kidney diseases, it will study the situation for two years using data gathered from A-bomb survivors in the past.
Chairman Okubo also revealed the institute's decision to analyze the incidence of cancer, based on the previous survey result involving A-bomb survivors on whether they had experienced the "black rain" or not.
(Originally published on March 6, 2010)
On March 5, the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF) announced that it will conduct research on the effects of radiation exposure from the atomic bombing on arterial sclerosis and kidney diseases in the new fiscal year starting April 1. RERF has made this decision based on a recommendation by the Scientific Council, an independent body comprised of 10 members. The council had been discussing RERF research for three days through March 5.
Takashi Yanagawa, the co-chair of the Scientific Council and a professor at Kurume University, and Toshiteru Okubo, chairman of RERF, held a news conference at the institute in Minami Ward, Hiroshima.
Based on research data which indicate that the higher the radiation dose, the higher the incidence of cardiac diseases and cerebral apoplexy as causes of deaths, RERF has decided to clarify the mechanism by conducting research on the correlation between the radiation dose and arterial sclerosis and kidney diseases, both of which could be the cause of cardiac diseases and cerebral apoplexy.
With regard to arterial sclerosis, the institute will conduct research for four years on about 4,000 A-bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In terms of kidney diseases, it will study the situation for two years using data gathered from A-bomb survivors in the past.
Chairman Okubo also revealed the institute's decision to analyze the incidence of cancer, based on the previous survey result involving A-bomb survivors on whether they had experienced the "black rain" or not.
(Originally published on March 6, 2010)
