From 1945 to 1963, global superpowers conducted over 500 atmospheric nuclear tests, releasing widespread radioactive fallout into the environment. These tests exposed nearby communities, military personnel, and even distant populations to harmful radiation. The 1963 Limited Test Ban Treaty curtailed above ground testing, but the long term health impacts persist. Radioactive isotopes from fallout have been linked to increased rates of cancer, particularly thyroid cancer and leukemia, among affected populations, including the “Downwinders” living near US test sites.

Speaker

Steven Simon

National Cancer Institute