03/28/2001

Joint Meeting of Japan – U.S. Working Groups on Reassessment of A-Bomb Dosimetry

Summary

The Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER) received one-time funds in the FY 2000 appropriation to support research needed to help resolve uncertainties in the A-bomb dosimetry that serves as the basis for current radiation protection standards. A joint meeting of the Japanese and U.S. working groups charged with reassessing the A-bomb dosimetry system, last updated in 1986, was held in Hiroshima, Japan, March 21-23, 2001. BER-supported research to measure A-bomb irradiated materials and to recalculate the output of the Hiroshima bomb using today’s vastly increased computer capabilities contributed to the success of this workshop and to the plan to develop a new A-bomb dosimetry system over the next year. This new dosimetry system will be incorporated into the ongoing deliberations of the National Academy of Sciences Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation VII (BEIR VII) study that is partially supported by DOE Office of Environment Safety and Health. The importance of this new dosimetry system is reflected in the fact that the BEIR VII study was actually put on a 1-2 year delay pending the development of this new dosimetry system.