A Critical Point Of View On Nuclear

Testing Essay, Research Paper

A Critical Point of View on Nuclear Testing Man has continually upgraded everything, from the abacus to the xylophone. This includedweapons, starting with the most elementary, clubs and evolving into the most devastating weapon yet, theatomic bomb. The testing of this weapon has been ceased nationally, but not throughout the entire world.Some countries have yet to achieve a nuclear power position. Countries like, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India,and Kuwait are just a few. Everyday the possibility of another country reaching a status as a nuclear powerbecomes more possible. The only way we know when they attain such a position, is the same way the do,we see the results of their tests. Nuclear testing is both dangerous and intesting, as you will discover asyou read on. Research on atomic bombs was begun around the same time in several countries, includingGermany, but in the United States, the actual building of an atomic bomb was already underway by 1942under the code name “Manhattan Project.” The project was carried out in extreme secrecy using a largeamount of the national budget and outstanding scientists. In September 1944 it was determined that anA-bomb would be used against Japan. On July 16, 1945 in the desert near Alamogordo, New Mexico, theUnited States successfully conducted the world’s first nuclear test.(Atomic bombs… page1) The UnitedSates decided to make two drops on Japan, one in Nagasaki and the other in Hiroshima. The splitting of atomic nuclei is called “fission.” When a single neutron strikes the nucleus of afissile material such as uranium 235 (or plutonium 239), two or three more neutrons are released. Whenthose neutrons are ejected, enormous energy is released. The flying neutrons then hit other nuclei of theuranium and cause them to split in a similar manner, releasing more energy and neutrons. When thisfission spreads, a huge amount of energy is generated instantaneously. The energy released from theHiroshima A-bomb was originally thought to be equivalent to the destructive power of 20,000 tons ofTNT. Later estimates, however, put the energy equivalent to approximately 15,000 tons of TNT, based ondamage done to buildings and research on the bomb’s composition. Despite the release of such enormousenergy, it is believed that less than one kilogram of the 10 to 30 kilograms of uranium 235 housed in thebomb achieved fission. In the Nagasaki bombing only slightly more than one kilogram of the plutonium239, which is what was used in place of the uranium, is thought to have achieved fission, but the energyreleased is estimated to be equivalent to the destructive power of about 22,000 tons of TNT. See the chartbelow.(Atomic bomb… Page 1) Hiroshima NagasakiHeight of explosion 580+-15 m 500+-10 mRadius in which ceramic roof tiles melted 600 m 1,000 m Radius in which granite stone melted 1,000 m 1,600 m The effects of the bombing was horrific, especially on humans. Burns were wide spread and severe. Within about 1.2 km of the ground zero, those exposed in the open to the direct heat rays were burnedthrough the skin and into the tissues below. Internal organs were damaged. The vast majority diedimmediately or within a few days. Within 2.0 km direct exposure resulted in severe, incapacitating burns.Beyond 3.0 km the burns affected only the surface of the skin, but workers who had removed their shirtsto escape the heat of summer were burned noticeably at distances of up to 3.5 km. In the city, where nearlyall standing structures were toppled, thousands were trapped under the debris. Unable to free themselves,they burned to death in the sea of fire ignited by the bomb.(Damage To… Page1) In the initial blast thousands were hurled through the air, their clothes burned by heat rays andblown instantly to tatters. The skin of those who had been burned by the heat rays was peeled away or lefthanging in strips. Glass windows were shattered, and large numbers of victims were covered withhundreds of glass fragments piercing their bodies. Decades later survivors still occasionally had suchfragments surgically removed from deep in their flesh; some continue to live with fragments stillembedded in them..(Damage To… Page1) Long after the initial effects of radiation had subsided, radiation damage continued to produce awide range of physical problems. After effects, including leukemia, cancer, and many others, appearedtwo, three, even ten years later. Exposure to radiation in 1945 continues to this day to threaten the healthand well-being of the survivors. (1) KeloidsBeginning in early 1946, scar tissue covering apparently healed burns began to swell and growabnormally. Mounds of raised and twisted flesh, called keloids, were found in 50 to 60 percent of thoseburned by direct exposure to the heat rays within 2.0 km of the ground zero. Keloids are believed to berelated to the effects of radiation. They caused extreme pain, both physically and emotionally. (2) Leukemia Leukemia is a malignancy of the blood. Young white blood cells reproduce uncontrollably to such anextent that their function is lost. The victim loses resistance to disease. (3) CancerRates of thyroid, breast, lung, salivary gland, and other cancers rose rapidly in the 1960s. Radiation wasshown to be an important factor. In some cases, researchers have reported a direct correspondencebetween distance from ground zero, probable radiation absorbed, and malignancy rates. (4) In-utero ExposureExposure to th