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

Abstract

The express purpose of the commission that authored this book was to describe the costs and effects of nuclear weapons production and testing. A further objective was to make the scientific data accessible to encourage the public to seek government accountability for each production and testing locale. Finally, the authors want to focus attention on past environmental damage and adverse health effects, and then urge the public to take action to prevent future harm. The commission has reviewed and reported the number and location of nuclear materials production facilities, weapon construction plants, and testing sites. It attempts to document the political and policy considerations and decisions leading to the selection of the various sites. This is relatively successful with the United States because more information is available about the US nuclear programs as a result of the greater public availability of information through declassification efforts and the Freedom of Information