Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health

The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine (대한예방의학회)
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Cohort Study Protocol: A Cohort of Korean Atomic Bomb Survivors and Their Offspring

  • Seong-geun Moon (Department of Preventive Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Ansun Jeong (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health, Hanyang University) ;
  • Yunji Han (Institute for Health and Society, Hanyang University) ;
  • Jin-Wu Nam (Department of Life Science, Hanyang University College of Natural Sciences) ;
  • Mi Kyung Kim (Department of Preventive Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Inah Kim (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Yu-Mi Kim (Department of Preventive Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Boyoung Park (Department of Preventive Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine)
  • Received : 2022.11.11
  • Accepted : 2023.01.10
  • Published : 2023.01.31
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Abstract

In 1945, atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Approximately 70 000 Koreans are estimated to have been exposed to radiation from atomic bombs at that time. After Korea's Liberation Day, approximately 23 000 of these people returned to Korea. To investigate the long-term health and hereditary effects of atomic bomb exposure on the offspring, cohort studies have been conducted on atomic bomb survivors in Japan. This study is an ongoing cohort study to determine the health status of Korean atomic bomb survivors and investigate whether any health effects were inherited by their offspring. Atomic bomb survivors are defined by the Special Act On the Support for Korean Atomic Bomb Victims, and their offspring are identified by participating atomic bomb survivors. As of 2024, we plan to recruit 1500 atomic bomb survivors and their offspring, including 200 trios with more than 300 people. Questionnaires regarding socio-demographic factors, health behaviors, past medical history, laboratory tests, and pedigree information comprise the data collected to minimize survival bias. For the 200 trios, whole-genome analysis is planned to identify de novo mutations in atomic bomb survivors and to compare the prevalence of de novo mutations with trios in the general population. Active follow-up based on telephone surveys and passive follow-up with linkage to the Korean Red Cross, National Health Insurance Service, death registry, and Korea Central Cancer Registry data are ongoing. By combining pedigree information with the findings of trio-based whole-genome analysis, the results will elucidate the hereditary health effects of atomic bomb exposure.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

We thank all the participants and researchers, especially Yunja Han, Eun Hee Yu, the Korea Atomic Bomb Casualty Association, and the Korea Atomic Bomb Casualty Offspring Association.

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