Radioactive Heaven and Earth: The Health and Environmental Effects of Nuclear Weapons Testing In, On, and Above the Earth

by the IPPNW International Commission to Investigate the Health and Environmental Effects of Nuclear Weapons Production and the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER)

Publisher: The Apex Press/Zed Books

Year Published: 1991

Pages: 193 pp.

Binding: Paperback

ISBN: 0945257341

Radioactive Heaven and Earth is the first global analysis of the health and environmental effects of nuclear weapons testing, both atmospheric and underground, since testing began at Alamogordo, New Mexico, in 1945. This report assesses the legacy of nuclear testing and examines the consequences of the testing programs in each of the major declared nuclear powers.

"Radioactive Heaven and Earth is in the great tradition of physicists and scientists as they continue to document the dangers of nuclear testing. This authoritative book exposes the human costs and environmental damage wreaked on the earth as the United States and other nuclear powers continue to develop new, more destructive nuclear weapons." – Rear Admiral Eugene Carroll (Ret. U.S. Navy), Deputy Director, Center for Defense Information

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1. Assessing the Legacy of Nuclear Testing

Technical Background

Nuclear Explosions and Their Results

Total Fission Product Activity and Decay

Induced Radioactivity

Radiation Exposure Due to Testing

Measurement Problems Related to Atmospheric Testing

Doses to Test Personnel and Downwinders

Hot Spots

Practical Problems in Estimating Radiation Dose

Measurement Problems Related to Underground Tests

Atmospheric Contamination After Underground Tests

Underground Accumulations

Non-Radiological Effects of Testing

Chapter 2. Methodology

General Approach

Counting Nuclear Tests Which Include Non-Military Objectives

Estimates of Adverse Health Effects

Assessing the Effects of Atmospheric Testing

Global Effects

Local Effects

Dose Calculations

Assessing the Effects of Underground Testing

Chapter 3. Global Effects

Global Cancer Risk Estimates

Inventory of Long-Lived Radionuclides from Atmospheric Testing

Inventory of Long-Lived Radionuclides from Underground Testing

Contamination of Space

Chapter 4. U.S. Testing in North America

Locations, Number and Types of Tests

Selection of a Test Site

Downwind Communities

Hot Spots and Other Environmental Contamination

Environmental Effects of Underground Testing

Chapter 5. U.S. Testing in the Pacific

Locations, Number, and Types of Tests

Historical Context of Testing

Selection of the Marshall Islands as a Test Site

The Tests

Possible Resumption of Atmospheric Testing

Downwind Communities

Acute Radiation Effects

Long-Term Effects of Contamination

Bikini

Enewetak

Rongelap

Relocation and Clean-Up Policies

Health Effects Due to Ciguatera

Ciguatera in the Marshall Islands

Chapter 6. Soviet Union

Locations, Number, and Types of Tests

Historical Context of Testing

Downwind Communities

Kazakhstan: Doses and Cancer Fatalities

Kazakhstan: Health Effects Other Than Cancer

Novaya Zemlya

Environmental Effects of Underground Testing

Chapter 7. British Testing in Australia

Historical Context, Locations, Number, and Types of Tests

Downwind Communities

Fallout Measurements

Dose Estimates and Health Effects

Armed Forces Personnel

Background to the Studies

Major Studies

Residual Environmental Contamination

Chapter 8. British and U.S. Testing at Christmas Island

Historical Context, Locations, Number, and Types of Tests

Downwind Communities

Christmas Islanders

Tongareva Islanders

Armed Forces Personnel

Environmental Contamination

Chapter 9. French Testing

Locations, Number, and Types of Tests

Historical Context of Testing

Downwind Communities

Armed Forces Personnel

Hot Spots

Environmental Effects of Atmospheric Testing

Environmental Effects of Underground Testing at Moruroa

Physical Damage to the Reef

Triggering of Landslides, Tsunamis, and Earthquakes

Venting of Gaseous and Volatile Fission Products

Medium- and Long-term Leakage of Fission Products to the Biosphere

Transfer of Dissolved Plutonium to the Ocean

Ciguatera

Chapter 10. China

Chapter 11. Other Countries

Summary and Conclusions

Glossary

References