New models predict that radioactive fallout from a nuclear war may kill over 300 million people in the United States alone.
Nuclear War vs 300 Million People in the US
A recent report analyzing the aftermath of a nuclear attack on the United States revealed alarming projections.
Approximately 300 million Americans would face a fatal risk from exposure to radioactive fallout within four days of such a catastrophic event.
The analysis suggested that in the event of a nuclear assault, adversaries would likely target the nation's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch sites concentrated in Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wyoming.
Given the retaliatory capacity housed in these 450 ICBM silos, eliminating them would become a top priority for enemies.
Despite the low population density in these states, the dispersion of radioactive materials via winds poses a significant threat to areas far beyond.
The study's modeling focused on these silos as the epicenter, estimating that depending on weather conditions, up to 90% of the population across the contiguous 48 states, northern Mexico, and densely populated Canadian regions could face lethal doses of radiation.
This grim analysis is part of a special report on the US nuclear program published in Scientific American, underscoring the widespread risk posed by such an attack.
Past Weather Patterns and New Simulation Models
Scientists used 2021 weather data to simulate the fallout of an 800-kiloton warhead striking all 450 silos simultaneously, intending to disable the US arsenal.
They mapped wind patterns' fallout dispersion for each day of 2021, recording the direst outcome at each location.
In this scenario, about three million people near the silos faced an eight grays (Gy) radiation exposure within four days, leading to certain death, as one Gy induces radiation sickness.
A gray (Gy) equals 100 radiation units (rads) or an absorbed dose of 1 Joule/kilogram-setting the annual radiation limit at 0.001 Gy.
Although radiation doses to a fetus are often lower than those to the mother, the human embryo and fetus are vulnerable to ionizing radiation at doses greater than 0.1 gray (Gy) due to protection from the uterus and surrounding tissues.
Depending on the stage of fetal development, exposure at doses more than 0.5 Gy can have serious health repercussions, even if such a dose is too low to have an immediate effect on the mother.
Growth limitation, abnormalities, reduced brain function, and cancer are all possible health implications.
Factoring shifting winds, researchers computed a conservative estimate of average radiation exposure across the continent.
Even in this adjusted scenario, millions remained at risk of fatal radiation exposure, underscoring the widespread peril posed by such an event.
Radiation and the Human Body
Radiation syndrome symptoms vary based on the received dose, spanning from nausea, fatigue, vomiting, and skin damage to seizures and coma.
High doses prompt rapid onset of these symptoms, potentially proving fatal.
The urgent special report stems from the US government's $1.5 trillion endeavor to modernize its aging nuclear arsenal, including the silo-stored weapons in western states. Its unequivocal message urges a reevaluation, criticizing the wastefulness and danger of escalating an arms race.
This report stands as the most alarming in the magazine's history, surpassing earlier 1976 and 1988 estimates that underestimated potential fallout-related fatalities from a US nuclear attack.
Advanced weather modeling techniques enhance fallout spread assessments across the continent.
Initially designed to deter foreign nuclear attacks, these land-based ICBM silos now paradoxically present ideal targets for a preemptive strike.
If the report's projections hold true, such an assault would permanently transform North America and its surroundings, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for reconsideration.
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