This charge was given to CAC acting for NRC–NAS. Under this contract, the Academy had the primary responsibility, the operational authority, and the financial support to conduct the necessary studies, but the outlines of the program still had to be developed. Nonetheless, it was soon clear that a careful long term follow–up study of the survivors and their children was needed and that the Joint Commission set up by the military was not the appropriate agency to do this.
A preliminary report was issued by the Joint Commission however, the vast amount of data collected was filed as a series of classified reports, some of which were published much later ( 9). Tsuzuki assembled more than 90 Japanese physicians and scientists. The American personnel consisted of more than 60 specialists. Tsuzuki were merged on Octoto form the Joint Commission for the Investigation of the Effects of the Atomic Bombs. By order of General Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander, these units and the Japanese groups under Dr. Army, the Navy, and the Manhattan District sent teams to Hiroshima and Nagasaki to study the medical effects of the atomic bombs. For brevity, reference frequently will be made to the Academy (i.e., NAS) or to NRC, rather than to the NRC–NAS complex. The focus of this paper will be on the early history of ABCC rather than on RERF. Of course, ABCC was always a partnership enterprise of NAS and the Japan National Institute of Health (JNIH), and RERF still is supported equally by the Japan Ministry of Health and Welfare and the United States government. Initially, this work was done through the founding and supervision of ABCC later, it was done through oversight of the American role in RERF, the successor to ABCC. Throughout this period, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) via its operating arm, the National Research Council (NRC), has shared responsibility for undertaking these studies with the Japanese government. New programs have been developed and existing ones have been extended in what is the longest continuing health survey ever undertaken.įor 50 years-in the longest continuing investigation of its kind-medical and scientific studies have been done of the survivors of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and of the survivors’ children. Much progress was made in the next decade, but changing times required founding of a binational nonprofit organization (RERF) with equal participation by Japan and the United States. In 1955, the Francis Report led to a unified epidemiological study. Budgetary difficulties and other problems almost forced closure in 1953. By 1950, ABCC staff exceeded 1,000, and clinical and genetic studies were underway. In 1946, a Directive of President Truman enjoined the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences to develop the program. Early research revealed the urgent need for long term study. Its mission had to be defined and refined. ABCC began in devastated, occupied Japan. Both ABCC (1947–1975) and RERF (1975 to date) have been a joint enterprise of the United States (through the National Academy of Sciences) and of Japan. This research program has provided the primary basis for radiation health standards. For 50 years, the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission (ABCC) and its successor, the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF), have conducted epidemiological and genetic studies of the survivors of the atomic bombs and of their children.