An assessment of radiation doses at an educational institution 57.8 km away from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant 1 month after the nuclear accident.
(74/128)
Rational risk estimation in relation to atomic bomb radiation.
(79/128)
This paper summarizes genetic and somatic data on persons exposed to low doses of atomic bomb radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Compared with experimental estimates, the new dosimetry system proposed in 1986 underestimates neutron doses, supporting qualitatively the conclusion by the 1965 dosimetry system that Nagasaki A-bomb emitted predominantly gamma rays whereas Hiroshima A-bomb emitted both gamma rays and fast neutrons. A theory based on two recessive mutations in hemopoietic stem cells is proposed to explain radiation leukemogenesis. The theory can explain, at least partly, the actual dose-response curve for incidences of acute leukemia in Hiroshima but cannot explain chronic leukemia in Nagasaki. Existence of a large threshold dose in the latter's dose relationship supports the hypothesis that A-bomb radiation at high doses above a threshold value was a promoter and/or progressor of leukemia. Various lines of evidence that support this hypothesis are presented. Hence, it is not warranted to assume that risk of death from cancer at a high dose, say, 1 Gy can be divided by 100 to obtain the risk at 1 cGy. Risk at low doses should be assessed by direct scrutiny of actual data at low doses in spite of their large statistical uncertainty. Actual data show that A-bomb survivors at 1-9 cGy had apparently lower incidences of tumors than unexposed persons. (+info)
Determination of specific activity of cobalt (60Co/Co) in steel samples exposed to the atomic bomb in Hiroshima.
(80/128)
Specific activity 60Co/Co in two steel samples taken at 687m S and 1295m NNW from the hypocenter was measured by gamma-ray spectrometry and neutron activation analysis. The results were, respectively, (2.64 +/- 0.38) x 10(1) and (3.09 +/- 0.48) x 10(-1) dpm/mg Co at the time of bombing, which are consistent with previous data by Hashizume et al. for steel rings on the surface of roofs of buildings. The present data are expected to serve as verification of the bomb neutron transport calculations. Content of nickel and copper in the samples, determined by colorimetric and neutron activation methods, respectively, was too small to account for any significant 60Co production by the (n,p) and (n, alpha) reactions. (+info)