ATOMIC BOMB CASUALTY COMMISSION (ABCC)
The largest operation and headquarters of this Commission are
in Hiroshima.
It was founded in 1947 with the primary purpose of
studying athe A-bomb victims and their children.
The ABCC is
funded mainly (90%) through United States Atomic Energy
Commission money channeled through the U.S. wational Academy of
Sciences-National Research Council and partly through the Japaaese National Institute of Health.
The Committee had met June 9
with the Director, Dr. George B. Darling on Saipan and he
indicated that while he would not be in Japan during the Committe's
visit, he would write to the staff to inform them in advance.
The Committee thus met with Dr.
LeRoy Allen, Jr., Deputy Director,
and his staff.
It was explained that originally the ABCC was established to
study the acute effects of radiation exposure, but later the emphasis
was changed to long-range studies of radiation effects.
During its
early years the ABCC treated, as well as examined, radiation victims;
but today
this agency's work is strictly based on examination and
the gathering and evaluation of statistics.
Patients who need medical
treatment are referred to public medical centers and private clinics
or physicians.
It was explained that the Commission's main work was divided
into three areas:
(1)
A life-span study which is designed to determine
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