Book excerpt: Presenting a monumental achievement: 50 years of data cataloging the immediate, long-term, and hereditary effects of atomic radiation on the survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs. Authored by one of the key members of the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission founded in 1947, this unique work documents the critical findings and conclusions of the longest ongoing medical study in history; it will surely become the foundation for all future investigations and standards regarding the bioeffects of ionizing radiation. "In my opinion, Dr. Schull has written a very interesting and accurate account of the atomic bomb follow-up program in Japan. He writes extremely well, with areas of his particular scientific interest described in great detail. He also describes events and the social implications in a manner that has broad, general appeal." —Stuart C. Finch, MD University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey "A history of the Hiroshima/Nagasaki study is badly needed. I was very happy to hear that Jack Schull was working on such a project, and it is an understatement to say that I am anxious to see it published." —Seymour Jablon, PhD Bethesda, Maryland "Rarely in the history of a program will one have a nearly 50-year account from an eyewitness and major participant, beginning with the program's onset to the present. Jack's book offers the reader this extraordinary insight into the birth and development of the study of the A-bomb survivors. Moreover, he has served on all major national and international commissions dealing with radiation protection and risk assessment and he interweaves the Japanese studies into the radiation risk issues in a way that few, if any, other contemporary scientists can." —Seymour Abrahamson, PhD Radiation Effects Research Foundation On August 6 and 9, 1945, the only atomic bombs ever used in warfare were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The destruction and death caused by those bombings presented the world with a vivid portrait of the dangers of the atomic age. However, the thousands of bomb survivors have given scientists a massive, firsthand perspective on the bioeffects of radioactivity. It is the study of these survivors that forms the foundation of the modern understanding of the immediate, long-term, and hereditary consequences of exposure to ionizing radiation. Effects of Atomic Radiation: A Half-Century of Studies from Hiroshima and Nagasaki is the definitive account of the methods, findings, and conclusions of the 50-year study on the survivors of the atomic bomb blasts. It is a truly monumental work, surveying a colossal body of data to offer a comprehensive, unified, and authoritative summary of not only the scientific study itself, but the personal, social, and political factors that have shaped the investigation from its inception. The book goes beyond the simple compilation of facts, giving the reader unique insight into this unprecedented research project and exploring the complex web of subjective perceptions and fears that color popular, national, and even scientific views of radiation exposure in moderate and extreme cases. Authored by Dr. William J. Schull, perhaps the single most influential scientist involved in the studies, this book conveys both his authority and sensitivity. Dr. Schull arrived in Japan in 1949 and was instrumental in the development of the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission. Since then, he has been one of the driving forces behind the largest medical follow-up study ever undertaken. His years spent working directly with bomb survivors imbue his narrative with a compelling personal history, and his service on numerous national and international committees studying ionizing radiation give him a broad, authoritative perspective on the implications of the ABCC's work. Effects of Atomic Radiation: A Half-Century of Studies from Hiroshima and Nagasaki is first and foremost a scientific work, summarizing the core findings of the definitive study on radiation exposure; while throughout the book, the author provides personal accounts that illustrate the human dimensions of the bombings. In a world where nuclear power is increasing and exposure to radiation is a daily occurrence, this book is essential reading for all scientists associated with public, private, or governmental institutions that set standards of acceptability for exposure.