A Slow Death: 83 Days of Radiation Sickness

Nhk TV Crew

ISBN 10: 1942993544 / ISBN 13: 9781942993544

Published by Kodansha Dez 2015, 2015

About this Item

Neuware - Japan's worst nuclear radiation accident took place at a uranium reprocessing facility in Tokaimura, northeast of Tokyo, on 30 September 1999. The direct cause of the accident was cited as the depositing of a uranyl nitrate solution containing about 16.6 kg of uranium, which exceeded the critical mass into a precipitation tank. Three workers were exposed to extreme doses of radiation.Hiroshi Ouchi, one of these workers, was transferred to the University of Tokyo Hospital Emergency Room, three days after the accident. Dr. Maekawa and his staff initially thought that Ouchi looked relatively well for a person exposed to such radiation levels. He could talk, and only his right hand was a little swollen with redness. However, his condition gradually weakened as the radioactivity broke down the chromosomes in his cells.The doctors were at a loss as to what to do. There were very few precedents and proven medical treatments for the victims of radiation poisoning. Less than 20 nuclear accidents had occurred in the world to that point, and most of those happened 30 years ago. This book documents the following 83 days of treatment until his passing, with detailed descriptions and explanations of the radiation poisoning.

Seller Inventory # 9781942993544

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Slow Death: 83 Days of Radiation Sickness
• Publisher: Kodansha Dez 2015
• Publication Date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1942993544
• ISBN 13: 9781942993544
• Binding: Taschenbuch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 213W x 139H x 15D millimeters 213 millimeters width by 139 millimeters height by 15 millimeters depth
• Weight: 208 grams

About this title

Synopsis

Japan's worst nuclear radiation accident took place at a uranium reprocessing facility in Tokaimura, northeast of Tokyo, on 30 September 1999. The direct cause of the accident was cited as the depositing of a uranyl nitrate solution—containing about 16.6 kg of uranium, which exceeded the critical mass—into a precipitation tank. Three workers were exposed to extreme doses of radiation.

Hiroshi Ouchi, one of these workers, was transferred to the University of Tokyo Hospital Emergency Room, three days after the accident. Dr. Maekawa and his staff initially thought that Ouchi looked relatively well for a person exposed to such radiation levels. He could talk, and only his right hand was a little swollen with redness. However, his condition gradually weakened as the radioactivity broke down the chromosomes in his cells.

The doctors were at a loss as to what to do. There were very few precedents and proven medical treatments for the victims of radiation poisoning. Less than 20 nuclear accidents had occurred in the world to that point, and most of those happened 30 years ago. This book documents the following 83 days of treatment until his passing, with detailed descriptions and explanations of the radiation poisoning.

About the Author

NHK (Nippon Hoso Kyokai) or Japan Broadcasting Corporation is Japan's public broadcaster. This book is an original television documentary—under the same name—produced by NHK, which aired in May 2001. The documentary won the Gold Nymph Award—the highest award possible—at the 42nd Monte Carlo Television Festival in 2002.