Nuclear Test Sites

Because of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, nuclear weapons testing is a thing of the past. The last was Operation Julin in 1992, which consisted of 7 tests in Nevada. One of the major concerns about testing nuclear weapons is the amount of radiation released into the atmosphere. The first tests were above ground and released massive amounts of radiation, but even once those were discontinued, long lasting radiation could escape into the atmosphere through leaks or venting.

This radiation has been proven to be a human carcinogen beyond a doubt. Although there were limited studies about how many people were affected by the radiation from nuclear testing sites, estimates are over 100,000 people. Cancer developing because of this radiation can take 10 to 40 years to develop, meaning that we are just now seeing the end of this monstrosity.

Nuclear radiation is not a quickly removed problem, either. After testing in the Marshall Islands in the 1950s, the nearby Bikini atoll had to be evacuated due to incredibly high numbers of radioactive isotopes. The coconuts on the islands are still radioactive because the plants pull the radiation out of the soil. In the 1970s, the government allowed people to move back, but soon had to evacuate again because the level of radiation these people were being exposed to was simply unacceptable. After unknowingly drinking contaminated coconut water, women were having many miscarriages and stillbirths, and children were being born with abnormalities. In 1997, scientists studied the radiation levels on the island again, and said that “Bikini Island should not be permanently resettled under present radiological conditions.”

The former residents have received inadequate aid after the US government destroyed their home.

While nuclear testing itself may be a thing of the past so long as the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty is upheld, the effects may last for quite some time. People who have been affected by the radiation are still seeking the aid and medical treatments they need as a direct result of governmental action.