| (4)Damage
of Radiation |
The special characteristic of an atomic bomb is
nuclear radiation, something which conventional weapons never produce.
The radiation inflicts severe injuries on the human body. The radiation
from the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima affected those within two to
three kilometers of the hypocenter, and especially those within 900 meters,
who received life-threatening doses. Many of them died within a few days.
The tremendous fire that burned downtown caused
intense firestorms and whirlwinds. Within 20 to 30 minutes, a heavy black
rain began falling in areas to the northwest. This rain contained large
amounts of radioactive soot and dust, thus contaminating areas far from
the hypocenter. It is said that fish died in ponds and rivers, and people
who drank well water suffered from diarrhea for about 3 months. After the
explosion, high levels of residual radiation remained on the ground for
an extended period. Many who did not directly experience the bomb were
affected. |
| ++The Danger
of Radiation |
The radiation caused alterations in the blood, destroyed
the bone marrow's ability to produce blood and also seriously damaged the
liver and other internal organs. Numerous people sustained fatal injuries
as a result.
Within about 2 kilometers of the hypocenter, high-levels of residual
radioactivity remained on the ground for about 2 weeks after the actual
explosion. Therefore, some who came to the area soon afterwards developed
symptoms of radiation sickness and died. |
| ++Lost Hair++ |
Hiroko (then 18) and her six-year old brother were on
the first floor of their home, only 800 meters from ground zero, when the
bomb's blast wrecked the house. They managed to get outside the house.
She had thirty-seven injuries, but her little brother was hardly hurt at
all. Her brother remained healthy and active until August 21, when suddenly
his temperature rose rapidly.
Most of his hair came out and sometime later, convulsed with vomiting,
her little brother died. Not long afterward, the mother was combing Hiroko's
hair, and it too came out easily. At the time people often said that the
loss of hair meant death was near. Hiroko resigned herself to the same
fate as her brother. But Hiroko made a remarkable recovery. Gradually her
hair grew back. Though she still suffered some atomic aftereffects, she
was married in 1947.
She had to have several surgical operations. But she tries always
to live courageously, saying, "I must do my best to make up for my brother's
short life." |
| ++Black Rain++ |
From around 9 a.m. black rain covered a wide area from
the hypocenter to the north-west. It rained heavily for one hour or more
in some areas. Since the rain contained a lot of black soot which was produced
by the terrific sea of fire, it was called "black rain", oily and sticky.
Furthermore, it contained radioactive elements produced by the fission
of uranium. Exposed to the rain, many people developed symptoms of the
atomic bomb diseases and died. |
| ++Suffering from the aftereffect |
Radiation caused serious effects on human bodies not only just after
the bombing, but for a long period of time since then. The long-term suffering
is known as a characteristic of the aftereffect of an atomic bomb. It is
not thoroughly clear, over 50 after the bombing , what long-term
effects radiation taken into human bodies brings about as the time passes
on. Leukemia, cancer or various diseases have developed two or three years
or even ten years after the explosion. Their health has been damaged even
now. |
| ++Keloids of a Girl's Arm++ |
The heat rays of the atomic bomb struck the human body
and produced burns. At the same time, radioactivity injured the inner tissues
of the skin and formed keloids on the surface of the skin. After seeming
to heal, the scars left by the burns swelled up. This type of swelling
is called a keloid. Most keloids developed in 1946 and 1947, and most commonly
in teenagers. At present, most keloids have flattened out but are still
recognizable as scars. |
| ++In-utero Exposure (microcephaly)++ |
The A-bomb had serious effects on fetuses. Many were stillborn, and
exposed fetuses born alive had higher infant mortality rates than other
children.
In-utero survivors also suffered an increased incidence of microcephaly,
a syndrome characterized by an abnormally small skull, accompanied in severe
cases by mental retardation.
Patient with microcephaly and patient's mother (now deceased) (1986)
/ Courtesy of Takaharu Narita
|
| ++Relief and Rescue Activities++ |
The disaster caused by the atomic bomb struck the
whole city in an instant. All public offices including the prefectural
office, the city office, police stations, and others were inactivated.
In the day following the bombing, a defense headquarters was established,
with elements of the Akatsuki Corps, which were attached to the Army Shipping
Unit in Hiroshima and which had suffered relatively light damage, taking
the lead, Relief operations were carried out by military personnel, government
officials and citizens working together as one. |
| ++Dr. Marcel
Junod |
A Swiss doctor, the late Dr. Marcel Junod came to Hiroshima
on September 8, 1945 when the A-bomb tragedy still filled the city. Dr.
Junod, as Chief Representative to Japan of the international Red Cross
Committee came with the Allied Forces investigating team bringing 15 tons
of medicine which were provided by the General Headquarters of the Occupation
forces. He remained in Hiroshima even after the team withdrew and made
his best efforts to help the A-bomb survivors. While occupied in surveying
the actual extent of the appalling catastrophe, he himself treated many
citizens who had fallen victim to the A-bomb. The medicines brought to
the city through his endeavors were distributed to each aid station, saving
thousands of A-bomb survivors.
To honor his work and love for humanity, the monument was erected
at the southern entrance of the Peace Memorial Park. On the back of the
monument, the words of Dr. Junod are carved as follows: "Innumerable cries
are asking for you help." |