Nuclear explosions have been a critical subject in many movies. These depict total chaos enshrouded in mushroom clouds. These movies offer a closer look at how nuclear destruction has the potential to transform our world entirely. Have you ever imagined what would happen if nuclear explosions were real?
Do you have an idea about the impact these could have on the lives of people as well as on the environment?
Nuclear Explosion In Movies
Nuclear explosions result in both delayed and immediate destructive effects. Significant destruction is caused within seconds of nuclear detonation owing to thermal radiation, ionizing radiation as well as due to blasts. The delayed effects such as radioactive fallout and other effects on the environment inflict damage for a prolonged period that lasts for years. Direct radiation that occurs during the time of explosion can be very intense and can have detrimental impact on living creatures.
Effects Of Radiation
Radiation sickness can cause irreversible damage to tissues of organs and this occurs upon excessive exposure to ionizing radiation. This term is used to refer to the acute problems that are a result of large amounts of radiation within a short span of time. Radiation poisoning results when ionizing radiation interferes with the process of cell division.
Nuclear weapons kill most of the life forms almost instantaneously. For instance, when an atomic bomb was dropped by the United States over Hiroshima during 1945, everything was annihilated within a couple of miles of detonation radius. The bombing had an impact of 20,000 tons of dynamite as per an investigative report released by the Manhattan Engineer District. Surviving animals and humans in Hiroshima sustained severe injuries from flying glass, severe burns, and radiation poisoning. Trees were stripped of leaves, scorched and uprooted during the attack.
Detonation of nuclear bombs can result in injection of radioactive particles into the stratosphere which can lead to global fallout. Nuclear bombing has higher impact in comparison to nuclear plant accidents although the impact cannot be ignored. The Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster that occurred during 1986 resulted in radioactive fallout in air resulting in a contamination of five million acres of cropland. High radiation levels were soon noted in milk and vegetables in European countries.
Radiation Exposure
Exposure to radiation can result in alteration of DNA in the genes of humans, animals, and plants with toxic consequences. As per an article released in 1996, gene mutations result in cancerous tumours in the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Gene mutations can lower the reproductive capacity as well as result in modifications of the offspring’s such as extra limbs. Larvae and eggs of marine organisms living in radioactive sea water are more susceptible to gene mutations.
The dense smoke from nuclear war can block sunlight and plunge the world into a state of darkness. Without sunlight and warmth, the plant life would be pushed into a state of starvation which will impact the food chain massively. The authors speculate that small scale use of nuclear warheads can result in depletion of ozone layer which can increase the temperature of earth, thereby enhancing the effects of global warming.
The sudden change in the ecosystem of the Earth due to nuclear blasts can prove to be worse than any of the effects described due to the increase in greenhouse gases. Climate change contributed to nuclear war results in an instantaneous shock to the system. Usage of nuclear weapons can have worse effects than one can ever imagine.
World Health Organization in Radiation Effects Of Health
Russian Nuclear Weapons
The World Health Organization has estimated that no health service in any part of the world would be able to cope up with those injured by burns, radiations from a nuclear explosion. Ionizing radiations can produce unseen poison that can even last for centuries. The poison may remain concentrated in animals and plants or in different parts of our bodies for years. The most injurious feature of ionizing radiation is the bundling of energy which can prove to be particularly damaging to the genetic blueprint. This can kill cells and result in incurable diseases in the generations to come. Cancer rates among the survivors of nuclear bombing in Japan are still rising. If there are frequent nuclear explosions in real life, then the world would soon be deemed unfit for inhabiting life in any form.
