Introduction
Caring for the environment is critical for researching and implementing new initiatives. The deterioration of his condition is often affected by harmful industrial and human activities. However, nuclear weapons pose the greatest danger to both individuals and the environment. In the entire history of humanity, this method of mass destruction has been used only a few times, while its consequences have been thoroughly investigated and analyzed by many scientists. Consequently, this argumentative essay backs up the idea that nuclear weapons have a gravely negative impact on the Earth’s ecosystem.
Harmful Environmental Impact of Nuclear Weapons
Definition
First and foremost, it is important to learn about nuclear weapons and their functions. Thus, it represents the most dangerous weapon of mass destruction in the world, which is based on the explosion of nuclear and thermonuclear substances. There are many different types of these weapons, and the degree of destruction depends on “whether the detonation occurs at or near ground-level, substantially below-ground, underwater, in the comparatively dense troposphere, the less dense although more ozone-rich stratosphere, or in the very rarified upper atmosphere” (Westing, 1981, p. 270). Countries use their stocks of this type of weapon to gain an advantage over others. Currently, the most significant number of wars are in countries such as Russia, Great Britain, China, and the United States of America.
Effects
Nuclear Winter
Further, this paper will look at the detrimental environmental contribution that nuclear weapons can have. To get the most useful and trustworthy support for points of view, the major arguments will be based on a number of scientifically supported sources. Thus, in the article Westing (1985) called “Nuclear war and the environment, “it is noted that” major nuclear war can lead to serious environmental (atmospheric) disruption of hemispheric dimensions for some months” (p. 6).
This impact has been called “nuclear winter,” which will be characterized by a sharp decrease in temperatures and will cause the death of a large number of people and animals. Research stated, “These temperature drops and associated losses in production would, by themselves, be unlikely to put the population at risk of starvation” (Green, 1989, p. 405). The reasons that concern environmental concerns are one of the main reasons for not using the studied form of weapons of mass destruction.
Radiation
The increased amount of radiation discharged into the atmosphere when nuclear bombs detonate is very significant for the environment. In addition to potential genetic abnormalities, it becomes one of the main causes of illness and mortality in both humans and animals. For instance, “at least 50% of all mammals and birds present in an area of 540 would be lethal from the nuclear radiation from a 20-kT atomic bomb airburst” (Westing, 1981, p. 270). It also permeates every food item, crop, water, and other critical activity supply on the planet.
International Tensions and Risks
The situation’s complexity is that there has been a nuclear race between countries for many years. Moreover, the deterioration of relations between Russia (the former USSR) and the United States is causing concern among scientists. Thus, this tension is reflected in the threat of the use of nuclear weapons by the giant countries when the peak of the conflict situation is reached.
However, as Pittock (1989) noted in “The environmental impact of nuclear war: Policy implications,” the threat to the environment and the population of the planet has a more excellent value and becomes a critical part of the development of political strategies of the state. Moreover, the author considers the use of nuclear weapons as a suicidal act, which, in addition to the global effect, will affect the destruction of one of the conflicting countries.
At the same time, nations should be involved in creating environmental and population safety plans, even though it is not feasible to use it anytime soon. This is because nuclear weapons can cover and hit an extensive area since the product of combustion and soot with toxic particles can spread through the wind and water. Thus, it will affect the death of animals, fish, and birds and negatively affect neighboring countries’ inhabitants. States should be well prepared for possible undesirable actions regardless of their status regarding involvement in the nuclear race.
Long-Term Impacts
Toon et al. make assumptions on how nuclear bombs would affect the ecosystem. Therefore, the authors emphasize that “the direct effects of thermal radiation and nuclear blasts, as well as gamma-ray and neutron radiation within the first few minutes of the blast, would cause most accidents” (Toon et al., 2007, p. 1124). Furthermore, unlike ordinary explosions, nuclear explosions have long-term effects because long-lived radionuclides can pollute the environment for a long time.
Furthermore, particles of carbonaceous smoke have the ability to disperse throughout the atmosphere, darkening the sky and harming the atmosphere (Toon et al., 2007). Thus, this article also confirms the point of view that nuclear weapons, regardless of size, type, and quantity, can negatively affect the environment and people. Moreover, it has a long-term impact and can aggravate the state of nature and humanity for many months or years.
Conclusion
The use of nuclear weapons is unquestionably extremely undesirable, as demonstrated by extensive and ongoing study. Thus, scientists support the argument put at the center of this work. The main argument for the point of view about the harm of nuclear weapons is the cause of such a severe deterioration of the environment and atmosphere that a nuclear winter may come, characterized by low solid temperatures.
Moreover, the type of weapons of mass destruction under study has a long-lasting effect, implying long retention of explosion products in the air and the environment. Thus, for all countries, there is a need to develop measures that will concern the protection of nature and all people. It is worth noting that the negative impact of nuclear weapons on the environment is one of the reasons why countries do not attempt to use them against each other.
References
Green, W. (1989). Nuclear war impacts on noncombatant societies: An important research task. Ambio, 402-406.
Pittock, A. B. (1989). The environmental impact of nuclear war: Policy implications. Ambio, 18, 367-371.
Toon, O.B., Robock, A., Turco, R.P., Bardeen, C., Oman, L., & Stenchikov, G.L. (2007). Consequences of regional-scale nuclear conflicts. Science, 315(5816), 1224-1225. Web.
Westing, A. H. (1981). Environmental impact of nuclear warfare. Environmental Conservation, 8(4), 269-273. Web.
Westing, A. H. (1985). Nuclear war and the environment. Environmental Conservation, 12(1), 5-6. Web.