Q & A page02

# Radioactivity Black Rain #
* Does radioactivity remain still now? The level of radioactivity in Hiroshima is higher than in other areas? No, it does not. There is little radioactivity in Hiroshima so you don't have to worry about that. * What is the effect of radioactivity? The occurrence rate of cancer is outstandingly high. Hibakusha, survivors of the atomic-bombing, have been anxious about their health. Because of the exposure to the atomic bomb, there are lots of people who have developed cancer even 54 years after the explosion. * Why did the black rain have a harmful influence on human bodies? Because it contained toxic radioactivity. * It was no plants will grow in Hiroshima for 70 years after the bomb was dropped? Is it true? The rumor spread to all over the ruined city of Hiroshima and people believed it. In fact, new buds of plants came out in September the same year the atomic bomb was dropped and encouraged them very much. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum <Damage of Radiation>

# Radioactivity Black Rain #

* Does radioactivity remain still now? The level of radioactivity in Hiroshima is higher than in other areas?
No, it does not. There is little radioactivity in Hiroshima so you don't have to worry about that.

* What is the effect of radioactivity?
The occurrence rate of cancer is outstandingly high. Hibakusha, survivors of the atomic-bombing, have been anxious about their health. Because of the exposure to the atomic bomb, there are lots of people who have developed cancer even 54 years after the explosion.

* Why did the black rain have a harmful influence on human bodies?
Because it contained toxic radioactivity.

* It was no plants will grow in Hiroshima for 70 years after the bomb was dropped? Is it true?
The rumor spread to all over the ruined city of Hiroshima and people believed it. In fact, new buds of plants came out in September the same year the atomic bomb was dropped and encouraged them very much.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum <Damage of Radiation>

# Aftereffects of the Atomic Bomb #
* What kind of aftereffects were there? Radiation penetrated into human bodies and the aftereffects has lasted a long time. Immediately after being exposed to the bomb, symptoms came out, such as loss of hair, vomiting, bleeding from the gum, diarrhea, inner bleeding, etc. Within a couple of years through ten years various cancers and leukemia (blood cancer) started to develop. Even now 54 years have passed, there are lots of people who are suffering from different kinds of diseases. Another serious damage is severe burns peculiar to the atomic bomb victims called keloid. Skin tissue was destroyed by intense heat rays and radiation. Among the victims who had keloids, there were people whose fingers, feet, arms, wrists, knees and etc became crooked. Surgical operation was given to remove these keloids, but the skin came up again and produced a similar condition again. Even now some people receive operations for keloids. Along with pain and itch the damage has tormented the victims. * It was said the victims' children and grandchildren would also develop the atomic bomb diseases. Is it different between parents and their descendants, or is there any difference? Some medical experts are still investigating and they have not yet reached to any conclusion. Meanwhile it is the fact that among the 2nd or 3rd generations of the atomic-bomb victims there are people who are worried about their health and some are struggling with discrimination against them in their marriage. With regard to this fact, it can be said that nuclear weapons are real terror and extremely inhumane. * How was a fetus in the womb of a woman exposed to the atomic bomb? The atomic bomb affected fetuses in different ways. Some babies were killed in the womb before their births. Even if they were born, they were much more likely to die than non-radiation-exposed ones. Among the fetuses exposed to the atomic bomb, there were babies with microcephaly. They had so small heads that they became mentally retarded and physically handicapped. * My grandfather has kind of a pocketbook. Does it have any meaning? The book is an atomic-bomb health book. It is proof that he is a hibakusha, survivor of the atomic bombing. * How many people are now suffering from atomic bomb diseases ? What symptoms of the disease do they have? Presently roughly 93,000 victims In Hiroshima City have the atomic bomb health books, but how many people are now under medical treatment is unclear but all the hibakusha have anxiety because of radiation exposure. * What is the influence of the bomb now on the third generation of hibakusha? No special influence has been found so far. However, some second and third generation hibakushas are worried about their health. The story of Kunizo Hatanaka

# Aftereffects of the Atomic Bomb #

* What kind of aftereffects were there?

Radiation penetrated into human bodies and the aftereffects has lasted a long time. Immediately after being exposed to the bomb, symptoms came out, such as loss of hair, vomiting, bleeding from the gum, diarrhea, inner bleeding, etc. Within a couple of years through ten years various cancers and leukemia (blood cancer) started to develop. Even now 54 years have passed, there are lots of people who are suffering from different kinds of diseases.
Another serious damage is severe burns peculiar to the atomic bomb victims called keloid. Skin tissue was destroyed by intense heat rays and radiation. Among the victims who had keloids, there were people whose fingers, feet, arms, wrists, knees and etc became crooked. Surgical operation was given to remove these keloids, but the skin came up again and produced a similar condition again. Even now some people receive operations for keloids. Along with pain and itch the damage has tormented the victims.

* It was said the victims' children and grandchildren would also develop the atomic bomb diseases. Is it different between parents and their descendants, or is there any difference?
Some medical experts are still investigating and they have not yet reached to any conclusion. Meanwhile it is the fact that among the 2nd or 3rd generations of the atomic-bomb victims there are people who are worried about their health and some are struggling with discrimination against them in their marriage. With regard to this fact, it can be said that nuclear weapons are real terror and extremely inhumane.

* How was a fetus in the womb of a woman exposed to the atomic bomb?
The atomic bomb affected fetuses in different ways. Some babies were killed in the womb before their births. Even if they were born, they were much more likely to die than non-radiation-exposed ones. Among the fetuses exposed to the atomic bomb, there were babies with microcephaly. They had so small heads that they became mentally retarded and physically handicapped.

* My grandfather has kind of a pocketbook. Does it have any meaning?
The book is an atomic-bomb health book. It is proof that he is a hibakusha, survivor of the atomic bombing.

* How many people are now suffering from atomic bomb diseases ? What symptoms of the disease do they have?
Presently roughly 93,000 victims In Hiroshima City have the atomic bomb health books, but how many people are now under medical treatment is unclear but all the hibakusha have anxiety because of radiation exposure.

* What is the influence of the bomb now on the third generation of hibakusha?
No special influence has been found so far. However, some second and third generation hibakushas are worried about their health.

The story of Kunizo Hatanaka

# Miscellaneous #
* Where was "Bare-foot Gen", (a hero in a comic book) exposed to the atomic bomb? Leaning against the wall of Kanzaki National School at Funairi-hon-machi 1.5km from the hypocenter, he was talking with a woman in the neighborhood. (This is an experience of Mr.Nakazawa, a writer of "Barefoot Gen.") * How many paper cranes did Sadako Sasaki, who became a model of the Children's Peace Monument fold? About 1,300 paper cranes. It is very sad that she couldn't recover even after she folded more than 1,000 cranes. There is a popular belief in Japan folding one thousand paper cranes will bring good luck. Peace Park Tour <Children's Peace Monument> * When the bomb exploded, didn't the water in rivers vaporize? Wasn't it hot when the people jumped in? At that moment the temperature rose and the water vaporized. But, as you know, rivers are always flowing from mountain areas toward the sea, so the rivers immediately returned to normal stream.

# Miscellaneous #

* Where was "Bare-foot Gen", (a hero in a comic book) exposed to the atomic bomb?
Leaning against the wall of Kanzaki National School at Funairi-hon-machi 1.5km from the hypocenter, he was talking with a woman in the neighborhood.
(This is an experience of Mr.Nakazawa, a writer of "Barefoot Gen.")

* How many paper cranes did Sadako Sasaki, who became a model of the Children's Peace Monument fold?
About 1,300 paper cranes. It is very sad that she couldn't recover even after she folded more than 1,000 cranes. There is a popular belief in Japan folding one thousand paper cranes will bring good luck.

Peace Park Tour <Children's Peace Monument>

* When the bomb exploded, didn't the water in rivers vaporize? Wasn't it hot when the people jumped in?
At that moment the temperature rose and the water vaporized. But, as you know, rivers are always flowing from mountain areas toward the sea, so the rivers immediately returned to normal stream.

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