'Black rain' appears to have fallen in wider area than believed

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HIROSHIMA, Jan. 24 Kyodo -
''Black rain'' following the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of the city of Hiroshima
appears to have fallen in wider areas than previously believed, according to
research by the city government.
The central government has provided free medical checkups to those who were in
areas hit by the contaminated rain for more than one hour, designated as heavy
rain districts, while those who were in areas which received black rain for
less than one hour, designated as light rain districts, have asked the state to
review the criterion.
The municipal government conducted the survey in 2008 to study how the black
rain has affected its residents who were born before the Aug. 6, 1945, atomic
bombing of the city.
The survey shows that respondents who were soaked with black rain were
distributed in areas double to triple the size of the light rain districts, and
that areas double the size of the heavy rain district are believed to have been
hit by black rain for more than two hours.
Among those who were in the heavy rain districts, 16 percent said they suffered
diarrhea or hair loss, believed to be acute symptoms of radiation exposure,
following the black rain, according to the study.
==Kyodo
2010-01-24 22:13:55