Cancer Discussions, Cancer Support and Community Connection Forum - January 24th, 2010 - 2 Comments
How aware were scientists and doctors of cancer caused by radiation due to nuclear testing (1945-1960)?
Specifically before the year 1960, and no time afterwards. Did they know about radiation causing lukemia and thyroid cancer? How much did they know within the 15 years of nuclear testing?
Sorry if this is not the appropriate section for the question. I was unsure of exactly where to place it.
Thanks in advance.
Don’t worry about it being the right section. This is the right section. I’m pretty sure that they were at least somewhat aware. They used to test it on islands from quite a distance. They also knew that it was dangerous because Madam Curie died from Radiation.
They were clueless, which is why they set up observation points within 3 miles of the test sites and thought nothing of it.
They used to irradiate overgrown adenoids, too. Scary.
Cancer research was almost non-existent prior to 1960.