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Radiation doses suffered by 20,000 A-bomb survivors to be reconfirmed by RERF

by Yumi Kanazaki, Staff Writer

On February 28, the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF) in Minami Ward, Hiroshima revealed that it will promote efforts to enhance the credibility of its data on radiation doses suffered by 20,000 A-bomb survivors, for whom RERF has been conducting a follow-up survey. RERF will use a detailed aerial photo and again identify where these A-bomb survivors experienced the atomic bombing.

Toshiteru Okubo, the chairman of RERF, provided this explanation at the meeting of the Scientific Council, which opened on February 28. Among A-bomb survivors for whom RERF has been conducting the follow-up survey since 1958, the efforts are targeted at 20,000 A-bomb survivors, whose records of circumstances at the time of the atomic bombing are clear.

In the 1950s, RERF interviewed A-bomb survivors and identified the sites where they experienced the atomic bombing, based on a map of the city before the atomic bombing. However, there were subtle discrepancies in the map. In fiscal 2010, RERF checked the map against a detailed aerial photo taken by U.S. forces before the atomic bombing, and made adjustments to the map. From this point forward, RERF will compare the contents of the past interviews with the 20,000 A-bomb survivors and reconfirm the places where they experienced the atomic bombing.

The Scientific Council, a third-party organization comprised of Japanese and U.S. experts, provides advice to RERF. On February 28, it was also reported that a follow-up survey on the health effects study of second-generation A-bomb survivors was begun last November. On March 2, the final day of the meeting of the Scientific Council, the council will present its recommendations to RERF.

(Originally published on March 1, 2011)

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