In order for a radiological attack to kill or sicken mass amounts of people would require a very large weapon with highly radioactive material. Although producing a radiological weapon is much easier than building a nuclear weapon, fabricating a very highly effective radiological dispersal device that could be transported to a particular location is very difficult. One of the problems in building a large device is the heavy shielding necessary to work with a significant amount of radioactive material. Otherwise, it would melt the container carrying the radiological material and sicken or kill anyone who is attempting to put together or transport the weapon.
...r. Iodine 131, another radioactive element, can dilute very quickly in the air, but if it is deposited on grass eaten by cows, the cows then re-concentrate it in their milk. Absorbed into the body's thyroid gland in a concentrated dose, Iodine 131 can cause cancer. In the Chernobyl disaster, the biggest health effect has been cases of thyroid cancer especially in children living near the nuclear plant. Therefore, because of the Chernobyl disaster we know to test the grass, soil, and milk for radiation. Also, an evacuation of the Chernobyl area was not ordered until over 24 hours after the incident. Japanese authorities evacuated 200,000 people from the area of Fukushima within hours of the initial alert. From the mistakes and magnitude of the disaster at Chernobyl, the world learned how to better deal with the long and short term effect of a Nuclear Fallout.
The reactor used at Chernobyl was an RBMK reactor created by the Soviet Union as a breeder reactor. A breeder reactor by definition is a reactor that creates more fissile material than the amount of a different type fissile material fuel needed to power it. This type of reactor produces more that was is needed to maintain the chain reaction in the fission process, and it also can produce a fissile isotope that can be used to create a nuclear weapon. Though being used as a breeder reactor was not the main purpose of the RBMKs, it still had...
During Ronald Reagan’s presidency, there was tension between the Soviet Union and the United States regarding the topic of the production of nuclear weapons within both countries. The Soviet Union and America had been on negative terms with each other. During the last presidency, the US decided to place an embargo on grain to Moscow along with a boycott to the olympics that was to be held in Moscow. Reagan did not approve to the tension between the US and the Soviets were and he wanted to be on a more positive mutual agreement rather than be on the verge of annihilating each other with nuclear weapons. He decided to write to the Soviet Union leaders in order to negotiate with lifting the Cold War tensions and to discuss the production of nuclear
Atomic weapons were used in the Pacific against Japan. President Truman has several different reasons for using the atomic bombs, such as signaling to the Russians, accelerating the end of the war, revenging for Pearl Harbor attack, etc. I believe the atomic bombing of Japan was necessary to end the war quickly as well as the stop the advance of Russia into Asia. At that time, the Russians had a plan to spread their influence and take territory in Asia. The atomic bombing put a stop to their expansion. It could also be considered as a threat to other belligerent countries because of its extremely destructive power. The explosion was a warning to those who wanted to attack or declare war on the United States. Also, it might help relieve Americans’
Out of all the dangerous powers and authority our government wields, possibly the most threatening powers are nuclear weapons. People tend to be frightened by things they do not understand, which make nuclear weapons a perfect catalyst for fear. These weapons have the most overwhelming and destructive power known to man; although, nuclear weapons are only safe in countries that try to maintain harmony and stability. Nuclear weapons are defined as “explosive devices whose destructive potential derives from the release of energy that accompanies the splitting or combining of atomic nuclei.” This power is both dangerous and unstable in the hands of small erratic countries.
This will expose first responders to harmful radiological material. Also concerning is the risk of terrorists obtaining and using chemical or biological agents. The risk of exposure to these types of materials is great for first responders. A firefighter on the 9/11 commission panel stated, “With the proliferation of “white-powder” and other threats posed by terrorists, front-line emergency responders are facing a much wider range of potential hazards for which they are ill-equipped.”(Protecting First Responders p. 33) The Salt Lake City Police Department gives its officers protective masks for certain gases and biological agents. No personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided for radiological attacks. This places these police officers in great danger if a “dirty bomb” is ever exploded in Salt Lake
Radiation is something that the naked eye cannot see, yet has the potential to save lives one treatment at a time or even one image at a time. Since the discovery of x-rays in 1895, it has branched out into numerous modalities each independently specializing in their own ways. X rays are used to aid in the diagnosis and treatments of patients on a case by case scenario. Sometimes doctors can make a diagnosis on the same day or conclude that a patient will require radiation therapy within weeks to follow. Whatever it may be, the importance of x rays and radiation itself is a crucial part of the medical field when it comes to saving lives. Initially it all started with the discovery of x rays but then three years later radiation therapy was introduced to aid with
There are at least 17,300 nuclear weapons in existence, with North Korea at the least with less than 10, the US is in second place with 7,700 nuclear weapons and Russia has the most with 8,500, enough to wipe out the world’s population many times over and 2,500 (7%) of these weapons are ready to fire at a moment’s notice. Nuclear weapons today are much more powerful than ever before, but what are the real effects of these explosive killing machines? Nuclear weapons are Dangerous to the world’s population and should be eliminated from their use in global warfare. These weapons not only kill thousands on the initial explosion, but they also leave hazardous materials behind, killing just as many people from radiation poisoning for miles from the blast point. Though it would be impossible to completely remove these weapons, we should restrict their use in warfare and make sure no nation starts a nuclear war. Using just one weapon has never been enough and this could not just lead to a global war between countries but, a war between the most powerful countries in the world. I believe that weapons as powerful as these should be restricted from use, but should still be owned by countries.
Nuclear weapons are the safest defense mechanism in the world. Although nuclear weapons can lead to mass destruction and the loss of thousands of lives when detonated, they are the optimal solution to the conflicts between countries in the future. The actual use of the nuclear weapon is not the deterrent, but rather just the mere fact that a country could use it against another country which avoids the large scale conflict. Thus, nuclear deterrence presents itself as a preferred security option. Firstly, based on deterrence theory, nuclear weapons will lead to Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD). This means that if nuclear weapons are used in warfare, either side will not be able to succeed in winning, as the destruction caused by the weapons will be too much for either side to recuperate from. Since the detonation of “Fat Man” and “Little Boy” over Nagasaki and Hiroshima, nuclear weapons have never been used in warfare again. The world saw the destruction which a nuclear bomb could have. Ever since, this has driven fear to never use nuclear weapons. Although many countries possess nuclear weapons today, they have yet to engage in a nuclear war. This has so far maintained “a tense but global peace” (Mutual Assured Destruction, 2014). As the use of nuclear weapons would lead to the ultimate destruction of humankind, nuclear deterrence is a viable security option as shown by the MAD principles, the application of the MAD doctrine throughout history and the current global stability.
In August 1945, the atomic bombings of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan were guided by the United States during the final stages of World War II. It was led by the United States with the help of many scientists willing to construct the world’s first nuclear bomb. Many feared new warfare technology, for it contained the ability to cause mass destruction and devastate the human population. This was a major topic of concern for many during the Cold War Era, and has carried over to the present day. Nuclear destruction was avoided by the Soviets and the United States by fighting in proxy wars, such as the Vietnam War, Korean War, and political crisis in the Middle East. (www.americanhistory.si.edu.) This was seen as a new technique of delegacy that benefited the human population instead of nuclear bombs. During the economic and political tensions of the Long War, nuclear weapons worried many who were concerned for the future of humanity and themselves. (Sherwin) However, for many, nuclear activity demonstrated the expansion of human innovation and intellectuality. Scientific discoveries were highly praised, especially those who strengthened a nation’s military power. For the US, their invention and discover of nuclear weapons demonstrated their dominance over global interaction, especially over the Soviet Union. (Goodman) The introduction of nuclear technology brought forth new techniques of warfare that led to the end of WWII and further concerns in the time of global expansion.
Radiation exposure can affect children as well an children have the risk of being the most harmfully effected by radiation because their body absorbs substances differently also their bodies can or are more likely to get certain kinds of cancers from too much exposure, “they are also closer to the ground, where radioactive fallouts settle.”
Nuclear Medicine is the use of radioisotopes for diagnosis, treatment, and research. Radioactive chemical tracers emit gamma rays which provides diagnostic information about a person's anatomy and the functioning of specific organs. Radioisotopes are also utilizes in treatments of diseases such as cancer. It is estimated that approximately one in two people in Western countries are likely to experience the benefits of nuclear medicine in their lifetime.
A radioisotope is an isotope that emits radiation as it has nuclear instability(Prostate Cancer; Fusion imaging helps target greater doses of radiation).Those who are not too familiar with radioisotopes may think their use is for harmful radiation, nuclear weapons, and the possibility of turning into a giant, raging, green monster. However, there are much more positive uses for radioisotopes. There have been many medical advances thanks to the benefit and practice of radioisotopes in nuclear medicine. These advances have been able to diagnose and treat a variety of diseases.
In 1945, when the Americans bombed Hiroshima, Japan, approximately 140,000 men and women were instantly killed by the effects of American nuclear defense. With such extreme brutality and force how many people must die for one to finally realize the strengths of nuclear bombs and what damage they can cause. Nuclear weapons should be outlawed because they kill thousands of innocent humans at a time, destroy the environment, and inviolate human’s right to moral and personal freedoms.
To save words we not go into the basic details of these radiations but these radiations make the radioisotopes our friend or foe. These radiations revolve round the issue of their use and disposal. Interestingly, both use and disposal are issues of concern. Disposal is an issue because the waste is non-biodegradable and the harmful radiations from them could cause cancer and alter genes in the DNA etc. The use of radioactivity is by itself an issue. Is it safe to use? Where shall the nuclear power plant be located? Where will the waste go?