#Radiation in Japan: Map of "Black Rain" Finally Made 66 Years After Hiroshima Bombing

Speaking of RERF - Radiation Effect Research Foundation - which succeeded the notorious ABCC - Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission - in 1975, RERF just came up with the area map of so-called "black rain" after the Hiroshima bombing. They had the survey data of 13,000 people all along, but sat on it for 66 years.

And surprise, surprise. The map shows the area where the "black rain" - radioactive fallout that fell with the rain - fell to be much, much bigger than what the government has admitted so far.

And not at all surprisingly, Toshiteru Okubo, chairman of RERF, says "Personally I do not think this data is important. It's hard to believe the black rain caused an acute radiation sickness anyway."

The chairman is right. People who have said they suffer the effect of radioactive fallout that they received by the black rain are not suffering an acute radiation sickness that would have caused them to die in a short period of time after the exposure.

From Yomiuri Shinbun, local Hiroshima version (12/21/2011):

日米の共同研究機関・放射線影響研究所（放影研、広島市南区・長崎市）が、原爆投下後に降った「黒い雨」を浴びた約１万３０００人の調査データを基に作製した分布図が公表された２０日、援護策の拡充を求める住民団体などから「援護地域の拡大につながる可能性がある」と期待の声が上がった。一方、放影研は「新しく判明したことはない」と健康被害の解明には否定的だが、国の検討会にデータが提供される見通しで、援護地域見直しをめぐる議論が注目される。

On December 20, Radiation Effect Research Foundation, a cooperative Japan-US research organization (RERF, Minami-ku in Hiroshima City and in Nagasaki City) disclosed the distribution map of "black rain" that fell after the nuclear bomb exploded over Hiroshima. The map was created from the survey data of about 13,000 people who were exposed to the black rain. Citizens' groups calling for more assistance for the bomb victims are hopeful that this may result in more areas becoming eligible for assistance. On the other hand, RERF says "There is no new discovery", insisting [the map] would not help in understanding health damages. But it is likely that the data will be submitted to a study group of the national government, and discussions may ensue as to whether the support areas should be revised.

　援護対象外の住民らで組織する県「黒い雨」原爆被害者の会連絡協議会の高野正明会長（７３）は「データの公表は有意義だ」と評価。その上で「現在の援護対象地域外でも降ったとする分布があり、援護地域の拡大に役立てば」と期待を寄せた。

Masaaki Takano, chairman of the Council of "Black Rain" Atomic Bomb Victims, praised the disclosure of the data as significant. He is hopeful that it will be used to expand the support areas, as the data shows the black rain fell outside the current support areas.

　県と広島市などは２０１０年７月、被爆者ら２万７１４７人分のアンケートを基に、厚生労働省に対して、指定する降雨地域より広範に降ったとして、援護地域の拡大を求める要望書を出した。この日の分布図公開について、市調査課の漆原正浩課長は「これまでの認定地域とは一部で食い違いがあるのがわかる。貴重なデータだが、どのように利用されるか国の判断を注視していきたい」と話した。

In July 2010, Hiroshima Prefecture and Hiroshima City submitted a request to the Ministry of Health and Labor to expand the support areas based on the survey of 27,147 people including atomic bomb victims, as the rain fell in much wider areas than the designated support area. Commenting on today's disclosure of the distribution map, a Hiroshima City official said, "The map clearly shows the areas [where the rain fell] that are different from the existing support areas. It's valuable data, but we will wait to see how the national government will decide to use it."

　放影研はすでに厚労省に今回のデータを提供。同省原子爆弾被爆者援護対策室の和田康紀室長は「（公開されたデータを）検討会で議論するかどうかは、座長と相談して決めたい」とした。

RERF has already submitted the data to the Ministry of Health and Labor. The head of the section in the Ministry to support atomic bomb victims said, "We would like to consult with the chairman of the study group to decide whether the data (disclosed today) should be discussed in the stidy group."

　一方、放影研で記者会見した大久保利晃理事長は、雨が降った時期や量などが確認できず、「爆心地付近で直爆を受けた人を中心にした調査。（黒い雨のデータにするには）内容が簡単過ぎるし、偏りがある」と指摘。その上で「私個人は、今回のデータがそれほど大事とは思っていない。雨を浴びて、重い急性症状を引き起こしたとも考えられない」との見方を示した。

On the other hand, Toshiteru Okubo, chairman of RERF, held a press conference at RERF [in Hiroshima City]. He pointed out that the timing of the precipitation and the amount could not be confirmed, and said "The survey was done on people who had a direct exposure to the atomic bomb near the hypocenter. To call this the data for black rain, the data is too simplistic and biased." He added, "Personally I don't think the data is that important. It's hard to believe the black rain caused an acute radiation illness anyway."

I couldn't find the map posted anywhere at the RERF site, which Chairman Okubo is holding in the picture below (from Yomiuri):

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