Long-Term Biological Consequences of Nuclear War

Abstract

Subfreezing temperatures, low light levels, and high doses of ionizing and ultraviolet radiation extending for many months after a large-scale nuclear war could destroy the biological support systems of civilization, at least in the Northern Hemisphere. Productivity in natural and agricultural ecosystems could be severely restricted for a year or more. Postwar survivors would face starvation as well as freezing conditions in the dark and be exposed to near-lethal doses of radiation. If, as now seems possible, the Southern Hemisphere were affected also, global disruption of the biosphere could ensue. In any event, there would be severe consequences, even in the areas not affected directly, because of the interdependence of the world economy. In either case the extinction of a large fraction of the Earth's animals, plants, and microorganisms seems possible. The population size of Homo sapiens conceivably could be reduced to prehistoric levels or below, and extinction of the human species itself cannot be excluded.

Physicians confront the nuclear peril.

“…Extinction of our species cannot be excluded. 23 These findings have been widely confirmed and accepted by scientists in the East and the West.…”

Can a collapse of global civilization be avoided?

“…Triggers to conflict beyond political and religious strife easily could include cross-border epidemics, a need to gain access to food supplies and farmland, and competition over other resources, especially agricultural water and (if the world does not come to its energy senses) oil. Finding ways to eliminate nuclear weapons and other instruments of mass destruction must move even higher on civilization's agenda [85], because nuclear war would be the quickest and surest route to a collapse [86].…”

Impacts of a nuclear war in South Asia on soybean and maize production in the Midwest United States

“…Ehrlich et al (1983) reported subfreezing temperatures, low light levels and high doses of UV light as drivers of large-scale decline in crop productivity in the Northern Hemisphere following a large-scale nuclear war. Harwell and Cropper (1985), investigated the agricultural effects of a large-scale nuclear war using both an empirical approach and simple crop growth models and concluded that significant reduction in crop yields and associated production could occur, primarily caused by shortening of the growing season and reduction of thermal time needed by crops to reach physiological maturity.…”