30 September 1999, Tokaimura, Japan- a seemingly insignificant "shortcut" at a nuclear fuel processing plant caused a "runaway" nuclear reaction. Sixty-three individuals were subjected to dangerous levels of X-radiation - later reports raised this number to 400.


Japan's appeal to the U.S. government for medical assistance was answered in the following vein 'Sorry, but our excellent scientists, 55 years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, have been unable to develop an effective or partially effective therapeutic agent or methodology for the treatment of victims of a nuclear radiation catastrophe.

This report will explore the basis of the U.S. military establishment continued and consistent failures in the field of radiation protection.


Termination of a Successful Program for the Purification of a Radiation Protective Agent.

(1) [1945-1962] Research performed at the Naval Medical Research Institute, NMRI , was published describing the isolation and partial purification of a protein from spleen which significantly protected animals exposed to near lethal levels of X-radiation. This project and research was terminated at the development stage of this program upon the activation of the Armed Force Radiobiology Research Institute, AFRRI, in 1962.

AFFRI: Failed Radiation Protection Programs

(2) [1962-2000] A primary mission of the Armed Force Radiobiology Research Institute, AFFRI, should be to conduct research for the development of a therapy to treat victims of a nuclear assault However, AFFRI, since its conception has focused its resources on the development of prophylactic (preventive) agents - namely the injection of extremely potent drugs to potential victims prior to their potential exposure to a radiation catastrophe. In order that radiation prophylactic measures to be effective the following must be known unequivocally:

(i) Precise knowledge - Time, place, magnitude and type of potential radiation tragedy.
(ii) Assembling the potential victims and performing a mass inoculation with drug X.
(iii) Confining all potential victims until the "all clear" sirens are sounded.

AFFRI unfortunately has never developed prophylactic agent X.

This report and supplementary data has been sent annually, since 1987, by registered mail to AFFRI, appropriate government agencies, members of the congress, etc. No meaningful response have been received.


For background information consult:

(1) www.affri.usuhs.mil
(2) www.google.com - Search for subject Tokaimura-nuclear.
(3) Nuclear Accident; SCIENCE 286, 207, 8 October 1999.