Editor—We agree with Turai et al in their review of the medical response to radiation incidents that the use of nuclear weapons is currently unlikely,1 but we are concerned that recent developments could lower the nuclear threshold worldwide.
Figure 1.
First hydrogen bomb, Semipalatinsk, 1953
Credit: PAUL LOWE/PANOS
Some 20 000 nuclear weapons are active today, many on high alert. Each is several times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb, which if used on a major city in the United Kingdom would overwhelm medical services.2 The United States is planning “bunker busters” or “mini nukes,” officially known as “low yield earth penetrating weapons,” claiming that their use would cause less “collateral damage” from blast or heat than existing nuclear weapons. However, “venting” would produce major fallout over several square kilometres downwind, causing hundreds of cases of radiation sickness in urban areas.3
Health workers can support an initiative towards reducing the nuclear weapon threat. In May 2005 a review conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty will take place at the United Nations. Under article VI of this treaty, as interpreted by the International Court of Justice, the nuclear weapon states are under an obligation to achieve nuclear disarmament by negotiation at an early date. The UK government is being urged not to replace Trident (a decision is needed in the next parliament). The United Kingdom has renounced chemical and biological weapons; a similar step in the nuclear field could lead to a major reduction in the threat of nuclear war.4
Competing interests: None declared.
References
- 1.Turai I, Veress K, Günalp B, Souchkevitch G. Medical response to radiation incidents and radionuclear threats. BMJ 2004;328: 568-72. (6 March.) [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.BMA Board of Science and Education. The medical effects of nuclear war. Chichester: John Wiley, 1983: 124.
- 3.Sidel VW, Geiger HJ, Abrams HL, Nelson RW, Loretz J. The threat of low-yield earth-penetrating nuclear weapons to civilian populations: nuclear “bunker busters” and their medical consequences. Cambridge, MA: IPPNW, 2003.
- 4.Pease RS. An end to British nuclear weapons? In: Holdstock D, Barnaby F, eds. The British nuclear weapons programme 1952-2002. London: Frank Cass, 2003: 131-6.