Q: In 1945, two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan. Has there been any study of long-term effects of this huge amount of radiation that would predict whether there will be long-term health effects from the power plant disaster?
—Diane Graves, Flowery Branch
A: Studies show that survivors of the atomic bomb blasts in 1945 have a greater incidence of cancer and thyroid diseases. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2006 found that nearly 45 percent of 4,100 survivors alive in the early 2000s had some type of thyroid disease, including nodules, autoimmune disease, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Also, radiation sickness and cancer are other risks for people affected by radiation from any source, not just at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Malcolm Sperrin, a medical physicist told the BBC. Vomiting and nausea are the immediate symptoms of radiation sickness, which can be followed by diarrhea, headaches and fever. Radiation sickness can also damage internal organs, which can be fatal. "Cancer is the biggest long-term risk," the BBC wrote. Also, "failure to properly repair the damage caused by radiation can also result in changes – or mutations – to the body's genetic material, which are not only associated with cancer, but may also be potentially passed down to offspring, leading to deformities in future generations. These can include smaller head or brain size, poorly formed eyes, slow growth and severe learning difficulties."
Lori Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or e-mail q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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