Long-term health effects of Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs not as dire as perceived

(Genetics Society of America) The detonation of atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 resulted in horrific casualties. The long-term effects of radiation exposure also increased cancer rates in the survivors. But public perception of the rates of cancer and birth defects among survivors and their children is greatly exaggerated when compared to the reality revealed by comprehensive follow-up studies. The reasons for this mismatch are discussed in a review published in the journal GENETICS.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2bjBMz5