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The Effects of Atomic Radiation

Atomic radiation causes fallout and other destructive effects, spreading the damage to locations far away from the site of the nuclear detonation; potentially adverse effects will continue over long periods of time.

  1. Radioactive Contamination

    • The chief effect of atomic radiation is the creation of large amounts of radioactive material with half-lives (periods of time in which substances are actively radioactive) ranging from hours to centuries.

    Ozone Layer Damage

    • Atomic radiation produces large amounts of nitrogen oxide (nearly 5000 tons of nitrogen oxide per megaton) from the atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen that reach up to the ozone layer, significantly depleting it.

    Nuclear Winter

    • Nuclear winter is a phenomenon that occurs when, after multiple detonations, huge amounts of debris and particles are dispersed into the atmosphere; these debris block significant amounts of sunlight from reaching the surface, leading to a huge drop in temperatures for months and even years.

    Eye Injury

    • Flash blindness is the most common eye injury caused by atomic radiation; it occurs when the retina of the eye is damaged by the intense brightness and thermal flash of the explosion.

    Radiation Injury

    • Atomic radiation damages humans on a chromosomal level, disrupting the cellular chemistry of the organism.

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