This Is What Happens When An Atomic Bomb Bursts

Chronicle (Levin), 13 July 1949, Page 5

This Is What Happens When An Atomic Bomb Bursts

Received Tuesday, 7 p.m. WASIIINOTON, July 11. The atomic bombs that took tliousands ot' livcs at lliroshima and Nagasaki, havc had 110 delayed el'feet so i'ar 011 persons wbo survived the blast, according to a report submitted to Congress today. The report was prepared by Dr. Shields Warren, director ot' thf Atomic Energy Commission biology and medicine division. It is regarded as the most authoritative summary yet pnblished on atom bornl) damage, based 011 the bombing of Japan. Dr. Warren says studies have shown 110 inerease 111 the disease rate among the exposed Japanese. or any other long range ettects. Dr. Warren says that if the atomie boml) bnrst in the air, the following would be. the effectfwithin a half-inile radius: — All buildings not of reinforced steel or concrete, would be depiolished.

Persons not killcd by falling wreckage would probably be killed by thermal energy. Ooneentrated radiatioh would kill others within five days. An other group would have white blood eclls destroyed and die within six weeks. Another gtoup would suffer multiple haemorrhages and die within eight weeks. Pregnant women would die but the fertility of other women would not be affeeted. Men would be more likely to have their reproduetion cells damaged by radiation and there was evidence of diminished reproductivity for three months in Japanese males within one mile of a bomb burst. Tn the area between one-half and one mile from a burst, structural damaffe would be general with only fire and shoek resistant buildings immune. Cnsualties would be causert ' flash and blast efferjs, involving* second or third degree burns.