A surprising new study indicates that the health effects from the two atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that ended World War II weren’t as bad as originally thought. The findings are based on data from more than 100 studies, which indicated that the long-term effects of radiation were actually minimal.

The study found that while individuals exposed to radiation from the bomb were more likely to develop cancer, the average life expectancy only dipped by 1.3 years compared to the national average, according to a Genetics Society of America statement.

In fact, scientists found that there were only 848 additional cases of cancer out of 44,635 exposures from the Hiroshima bomb. The overall cancer risk rate increased by just 42 percent, meaning the risks were similar to smoking.

Why is the study so important? It could have major implications in the future for nuclear power. If we find out we had overestimated the effects of radiation all along and that our bodies are more resilient than thought, it would certainly lessen the argument that having nuclear power is dangerous in case of a meltdown.