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Cohort study profile: a cohort of Korean atomic bomb survivors and their offspring
Hamin Lee, Jin-Wu Nam, Mi Kyung Kim, Inah Kim, Yu-Mi Kim, Boyoung Park
Epidemiol Health. 2024;46:e2024089.   Published online November 18, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2024089
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AbstractAbstract AbstractSummary PDF
Abstract
The Korean Atomic Bomb Survivor Cohort (K-ABC) study was designed to investigate the health impacts of atomic bomb exposure on Korean survivors and to explore whether these effects are passed down genetically to their descendants. This paper outlines the study’s design, data collection methods, baseline socio-demographic characteristics, exposure status, and disease prevalence among the participants, based on survey responses and health examinations. From 2020 to 2024, a total of 2,544 individuals, comprising 1,109 atomic bomb survivors (G1), 1,193 children of G1 (G2), and 242 grandchildren of G1 (G3), consented to participate in the study. Of these, 1,828 participants (659 in G1, 927 in G2, and 242 in G3) completed the survey and underwent health examinations, representing a participation rate of 71.9%. Exposure information was gathered using a questionnaire and verified through records from the Korean Red Cross and a handbook issued by the Japanese government. Disease prevalence was determined based on participants’ self-reported physician diagnoses. This study presents details about the K-ABC study and provides baseline data on the participants recruited. These data will be valuable for interpreting the results of future K-ABC studies.
Summary
Korean summary
한국인 원폭피해자 코호트 연구는 1945년 일본에서 원자폭탄에 피폭된 원폭 피해자 1세와 이들의 자녀인 2세, 3세의 건강과 질병 위험도을 장기적으로 조사한다. 이를 위해 2020년부터 2023년까지 설문조사를 통해 정보를 수집하였고, 이후 설문조사와 함께 건강보험공단, 국립암센터, 통계청 등 공공 기관에서 보유하고 있는 데이터를 연계하여 추적관찰을 수행해 나갈 예정이다.
Key Message
The Korean atomic bomb survivor’s cohort study investigates the long-term health and disease risks of first generation atomic bomb survivors exposed in Japan in 1945, as well as their second generation and third generations. From 2020 to 2023, information was collected through surveys. Follow-up will be conducted through surveys and secondary data linkage from public institutions such as the National Health Insurance Service, the Korea Central Cancer Registry, and Statistics Korea.
Review
Epidemiological Researches on the Health Hazards in Veterans of United States of America.
Hyun Sul Lim
Korean J Epidemiol. 2001;23(1):23-35.
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Abstract
The Department of Veterans Affairs(VA) maintains some large automated databases that provide the opportunity for studying long-term health effects of military service. The Beneficiary Identification and Record Locator Subsystem(BIRLS) is an excellent source of vital status information on veterans. The VA Patient Treatment File(PTF) is a computerized hospital discharge abstract system of inpatient records, including patients' demographic data, surgical and procedural transactions, and patient movements and diagnosis. The computerized Agent Orange Registry data include veteran's name, address, some information on military service, and findings at the time of his physical examination. The US conducted 235 atmospheric nuclear tests from 1945 through 1962. Many of the 250,000 test participants were exposed to low levels of radiation. The overall average radiation dose was estimated as 0.6 rem per year. In 1976, a claim relating acute myelocytic leukemia to radiation exposure from nuclear weapon testing received extensive publicity. Several thousand "atomic veterans" have sought medical care and compensation from VA for medical conditions that they believe are related to the nuclear weapon testing. Many WWII veterans have contracted the US VA about health problems that they attribute to their exposure to mustard gas. From 1962 to 1971, 75 million liters of herbicides, including over 41 million liters of the phenoxy herbicide Agent Orange, were sprayed on almost 9% of Vietnam. Many studies have been conducted to determine the association of various cancers with military service in Vietnam. Some diseases have been compensated for Vietnam veterans. Health problems reported following the Gulf War include a wide variety of symptoms similar to those found in acute combat reaction, posttraumatic stress disorder, and chronic fatigue. Health problems associated with war have continued and in some ways intensified. Therefore, The United States developed a plan for establishing a national center for the study of war-related illnesses and post-deployment health issues.
Summary

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