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The Effects of Nuking Islands

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Table of Contents
Abstract 3
The Impacts of Nuking Islands
Effects on Humans and Wildlife 3
Effects on the Environment 4
Solution to Nuking Islands 4
Effects of the Solution 4
Conclusion 5
Sources 6
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Abstract
Since the beginning of the nuclear age, live testing of nuclear weapons has been done to ensure
proper ignition and destruction of nuclear bombs. Unfortunately, this means the tests need to be
conducted somewhere. The United States, the United Kingdom, and France took part in testing a
large portion of their nuclear arsenal in the waters of the Pacific Ocean and on islands that were
currently inhabited. These tests had negative effects towards the inhabitants of the islands as well
as the environment around the blasts. Nuclear testing should not be conducted around innocent
individuals, destroying their homes and lives. This can and should be prevented immediately. By
making countries sign nuclear treaties, action against the testing of nuclear weapons on islands in
the Pacific and around the world can be taken. Avoiding direct and indirect casualties should be
every countries number one priority when conducting weapon tests.

The Impacts of Nuking Islands

Effects on Humans and Wildlife
The effects of radiation poisoning were known years before the first nuclear bombs were created.
Hermann Joseph Muller noted the genetic effects and cancer risks in 1927, almost 20 years
before the first atomic bomb was used in warfare. Radiation sicknesses includes vomiting,
diarrhea, fatigue, itchiness, sore skin, burning of the eyes and skin, and swollen body parts.
Since 1946, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France have been responsible for
conducting 318 nuclear tests in the Pacific Ocean. Of these 318 tests, 66 were exclusively in the
Marshall Islands in an operation called The Pacific Proving Grounds. The Marshall Islands are a
group of inhabited islands in the Micronesian part of the Pacific. In the 1940’s the population of
the country was approximately 15,000. More than 70 years after testing, some parts of the Pacific
Ocean are still contaminated by nuclear fallout, including the Marshall Islands. Because of this,
some of those islands are no longer habitable. Due to the residual radiation exposure caused from
past nuclear testing, the Marshallese are 1.6% more likely to test positive to cancers. Islanders
from the Rongelap Atoll and Ailinginae Atoll are 55% (with a 28% to 69% uncertainty range)
more likely to test positive to cancers [1]. Other serious increases in medical defects include
miscarriages and tumors.
In 1946, 167 Micronesian residents were forced out of their homeland by the United States
government so they could test nuclear weapons. The native islander’s homeland was effectively
destroyed and can never be replaced. All the tribesman’s heritage and history connected with the
islands were destroyed.
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Effects on the Environment

The island of Rongelap Atoll had 2cm of a snowlike irradiated debris of calcium ash that covered
the entire island. A total of six islands have been completely vaporized from testing, including
the islands of Nam, Aerokojlol, and Bokonijien in Bikini Atoll.

Nuclear weapon test at Bikini Atoll, July 25, 1946

Solution to Nuking Islands

A solution to the disaster of nuking the islands in the Pacific is treaties and reparations. The
United Nations can adopt a treaty banning the parties, or the entire world, from continuing the
testing of nukes within a certain distance from the islands. Ideally this would be a location far
enough so that there is no fallout or radiation exposure to any humans.

Effects of the Solution

Despite the damage that has already begun, the signing of treaties banning nuclear weapons
testing in the Pacific Ocean will still change the lives of the local residents. Although cancer
rates are higher and some of their homes have been completely obliterated, at least it will not
continue any more. This will allow the islanders to get their life back and not have to worry
about whether or not they will once again be relocated. Their unfortunate rise in cancer will not
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continue to get worse if more testing was done. This treaty will prevent other nations who had
potentially thought about testing their nukes in the islands as well.
With the reparations, depending on the monetary size, the islander’s communities can regrow
and potentially build it back to what it was before foreign governments took power over their
lands. This money could go towards the spread of awareness of the negative effects, or just
effects really, of nuking islands. This could lead to a treaty that bans the testing of nuclear
weapons in all oceans, islands or not.

Conclusion
Nuclear testing has negatively affected the lives of individuals in the Pacific. Homelands have
been destroyed and people are living the rest of their life with radiation poisoning. Treaties and
reparations can partly make up for the everlasting effect nuking has placed on the islanders. Not
allowing nukes to be tested in the waters anywhere near humans as well as giving them a sum of
money can help them rebuild their old lives. Although this does not reverse everything done to
them, it is the least that can be done.
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Sources
[1]“Fallout from Nuclear Weapons Tests and Cancer Risks.” American Scientist, 18 July 2019,
https://www.americanscientist.org/article/fallout-from-nuclear-weapons-tests-and-cancer-
risks.

[2]Mandal, Dr. Ananya. “Radiation Poisoning History.” News, 27 Feb. 2019, https://www.news-
medical.net/health/Radiation-Poisoning-History.aspx.

[3]“The Nuclear History of Micronesia and the Pacific.” Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, 1 Aug.
2013, https://www.wagingpeace.org/the-nuclear-history-of-micronesia-and-the-pacific/.

[4]“Pacific Nuclear Test Archive.” International Disarmament Institute News,

https://disarmament.blogs.pace.edu/nuclear-test-archive/.

[5]“Radiation Protection.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency,

https://www.epa.gov/radiation/radiation-health-effects.