Main Conclusions of the Effects on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, one year after the bombings

Burnt Nagasaki boy. From http://www.geschichteinchronologie.ch/USA/

A couple of years ago, a relative of mine, a doctor, told me that Buenos Aires hospitals were attending Russian women with cancer, generated long after Chernobyl´s nuclear disaster. I was surprised and asked if our hospitals had room enough for foreign people, as they are completely crowded, given the attention is free. And he answered, ¨we don´t care if they are Russians or Argentines, they are humans.¨

I don´t need to comment about the terrible effects on people, year after year, mainly cancer-leukaemia caused by atomic exposure. Genetic abnormalities seem not to be of first importance. By 2005, it was reported that 45% of the people who survived being blasted by radiation was still alive. Research is still continued.

Diseases in the aftermath of these bombs, were first described in The Lancet medical journal, in 1946. In the same year, the Manhattan Engineer District published a full report. Here, the main conclusions that would not reflect the future consequences.

Hiroshima after the bomb.  sharpya.blogspot.com/2009/08/hiroshima-

¨The following are the main conclusions which were reached after thorough examination of the effects of the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki:
1. No harmful amounts of persistent radioactivity were present after the explosions as determined by:
A. Measurements of the intensity of radioactivity at the time of the investigation; and
B. Failure to find any clinical evidence of persons harmed by persistent radioactivity.
The effects of the atomic bombs on human beings were of three main types:
A. Burns, remarkable for (1) the great ground area over which they were inflicted and (2) the prevalence of "flash" burns caused by the instantaneous heat radiation.
B. Mechanical injuries, also remarkable for the wide area in which suffered.
C. Effects resulting from penetrating gamma radiation. The effects from radiation were due to instantaneous discharge of radiation at the moment of explosion and not to persistent radioactivity (of either fission products or other substances whose radioactivity might have been induced by proximity to the explosions).
The effects of the atomic bombs on structures and installations were of two types:
A. Destruction caused by the great pressure from the blast; and
B. Destruction caused by the fires, either started directly by the great heat radiation, or indirectly through the collapse of buildings, wiring, etc.
4. The actual tonnage of T.N.T. which would have caused the same blast damage was approximately of the order of 20,000 tons.
5. In respect to their height of burst, the bombs performed exactly according to design.

6. The bombs were placed in such positions that they could not have done more damage from any alternative bursting point in either city.
7. The heights of burst were correctly chosen having regard to the type of destruction it was desired to cause.
8. The information collected would enable a reasonably accurate prediction to be made of the blast damage likely to be caused in any city where an atomic explosion could be effected.¨

REFERENCE

The Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. By The Manhattan Engineer District. June 29, 1946.

Read the full report:
http://www.fullbooks.com/The-Atomic-Bombings-of-Hiroshima-and.html