Essay Sample on Effects of Nuclear Weapon in Attacks

Introduction

Over the past years, the World Health Organization has been conducting research on the consequences of the use of nuclear weapons on human health and services. Although studies have shown that the probability of a nuclear weapon with disastrous effects for humanity has reduced, the fact remains that the production of 'nukes' are still ongoing implying that there is a potential danger on the effects of their use in wars and terrorist attacks (National Research Council, 2005). It is worth noting that nuclear weapons pose health and environmental threats when they are detonated. These risks are connected to the involuntary release of radioactivity, dismantling of the nuclear warheads, and discharge of the nuclear facilities. Assuming that the attack takes place in the University of Texas, and the terrorists detonate a nuclear weapon with 15kt yield, and the bomb is launched from the top of a tower measuring around 300 feet tall, the consequences of this attack would be severe. Sincerely, a nuclear weapon with 15kt yield is likely to be similar to the 'little boy' atomic bomb dropped at Hiroshima (Harwell, 1985). This case implies that that some of the effects of this attack would likely to be the same as those experienced in Hiroshima during the Second World War.

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Potential Effects of the Nuclear Weapon

From an individual perspective, the nuclear weapon detonated at a height of around 94 meters from the Observation deck at the University of Texas would cause damages influenced by the emission of thermal radiation and blast. More than 63 % of the structural buildings in Texas would be completely destroyed (National Research Council, 2005). In sum, over 90% of the structures in the region would either be destroyed or damaged by the blast and fire (World Health Organization, 1995). This percentage destruction also translates to the deaths of many individuals living, studying or working around the University of Texas.

To be precise, the explosion would destroy almost everything up to approximately one mile from the University of Texas excluding a small number of heavily reinforced concrete structures such as those designed to withstand earthquake (Toon, Robock, & Turco, 2014). According to (Nakamura (2006) the blast would not collapse most of these buildings since their interiors are entirely gutted and all their doors, windows, frames and sashes are completely ripped out. Research indicates that the reinforced concrete buildings that are likely to survive the explosion fairly close to the University of Texas were constructed in a way that they cannot withstand the approximated optimum pressures created against the total areas presented by the buildings' roof and sides (World Health Organization, 1995).

Due to the yield of the nuclear weapon, there is the likelihood that fire would break out about 90 minutes after the blast at different locations quite far from the center of the attack (Harwell, 1985). Also, since there is a 5-10 mph wind from the North-west, there is a high chance that the wind would extend the fire towards the direction with fewer residences. After around 6 hours, there may be a change in the direction of the wind to West although with a drop in speed (World Health Organization, (1995). Despite the fact that the sky is clear with no sign of rain, the atmosphere will be polluted with colossal amount of smoke from the nuclear explosion. When the rain comes, it may carry these impurities resulting in black rain consisting of radioactive materials (Toon, Robock, & Turco, 2014). As a result, radioactivity will be later realized in a wide area. Radioactivity may cause severe biological damages among the individuals exposed to residual radiation or the black rain.

This attack will be brutal and most of the properties will burn to ashes because putting out the fire will not be possible as a result of interference with fire-fighting activities. It is projected that the fire-fighting facilities around the University of Texas will be damaged. In case the fire-fighters and the facilities escape the disaster, blocked roads will still prevent the operation (Harwell, 1985). Besides, several water pipes inside damaged structures will be broken. Due to the broken pipes, the interruption of the electric power will disable the pumping stations, leading to lack of water supply in the region.

Immediate Effects on the Human Body

The injuries the atomic bomb is likely to impose may result from heat rays emitted by the nuclear weapon during the blast. There is a high possibility that the rate of the death tolls will be around 96% within a distance of half a mile from the observation deck (National Research Council, 2005). Deaths will be triggered by burns, external injuries and apparent injuries. Based on the observations in Nagasaki, it is projected that the effects of the nuclear weapon detonated at the University of Texas will appear in four stages.

The first stage is the initial phase where a largest number of casualties will occur immediately after the blast until the end of the second week. About 90% of the fatalities will be expected to occur at this stage (Harwell, 1985). Many injured individuals who will undergo medical care after the explosion will mostly complain of the burn injuries.

The second stage is intermediate stage. Here, countless moderate injuries inflicted by radiation will be encountered from the start of the third week and it will extend to the end of the eighth week. The remaining 10% from the initial stage may die (National Research Council, 2005). These first two stages make up an acute phase of the injury.

The third stage is known as late stage. Most of the injured survivors will recover slowly from the beginning of the third month towards the end the fourth month but some of death cases will likely to be reported especially for those who will have developed complications (World Health Organization, 1995).

The last stage is delayed effects which may occur after five months (National Research Council, 2005). Such effects include contractures, distortions, and mechanical injuries. Cases of anemia may also exist due to the depression of the bone marrow caused by exposure to radiation. Other victims may also have reproductive problems such as sterility (World Health Organization, 1995). The health impacts of the nuclear detonation would be due to thermal radiation, nuclear blast, Ionizing radiation and fallout as discussed below.

Blast

Nuclear explosions often produce air-blast effects like those of the conventional explosives. According to Harwell (1985), the blast pressure generated by a nuclear weapon with a yield of 15kt at ground zero is estimated to be 6.4-9.5 psi. Mechanical injuries associated with the blast may be direct or indirect. The indirect impact could be collapsing buildings and flying debris (Toon, Robock, & Turco, 2014). In contrast, the shock wave can directly harm humans by rupturing lungs and eardrums. The blasts can also cause instantaneous deaths.

Thermal Radiation

A single nuclear outburst is likely to produce a strong pulse of thermal radiation that can ignite fires and burn skin in a large area. Studies have revealed that the intensity of the heat generated by this nuclear weapon when it explodes is approximately 3000-4000oC at the ground levels close to the detonation area (Harwell, 1985). In some instances, the fire started by the explosion can cause a firestorm making it difficult for the survivors to escape. It is because its duration is extremely short, making it possible to cause burns from fires kindled by the flash. Schull, Otake, & Neel (1981) suggested that thermal impacts from a nuclear detonation would be the factor behind significant casualties.

Ionizing Radiation

Nuclear explosions discharge large quantities of neurons and gamma rays. Compared to other effects, ionizing radiation is a significant cause of casualties but for low-yield explosions (National Research Council, 2005). Due to the relatively low energy yield of the nuclear weapon, the initial radiation generated during a period of approximately one minute after the detonation may play an important role in the health effects induced by radiation.

Residual Nuclear Radiation (Fallout)

When a nuclear weapon explodes near the earth surface, soil combines with radioactive fission materials of high nature. The debris is then deposited by the win and falls back to the ground over a short time.

Possible Genetic Effects of the Nuclear Weapon

Besides the nuclear weapon killing many civilians, the detonation of the bomb at the University of Texas may unleash an invisible plague. According to Harwell (1985), the bomb can take less than one millionth of a second for it to explode by hyper-energetic radiation. Such dreadful circumstances would result in profound defects in future. Research has also shown that bombing can affect children born to survivors of the attack. According to Nakamura (2006), survivors may be exposed to radiation in-utero, and such contact may lead to physical growth impairment, mental retardation and cancer risk.

Mental Retardation

Research conducted by Schull, Otake, & Neel(1981) indicated that radiation discharge of between fifty and one hundred rad from the bombing emit in-utero rays which pose significant risk of mental retardation in children. Such risks are believed to originate from women exposed to this radiation during eight to fifteen weeks of pregnancy from the time of detonation (Harwell, 1985). Most of the victims who are likely to be affected are those who could be within a distance of one kilometer from the University of Texas. Although the biological events associated with these abnormalities are unclear, researchers have found that the magnetic resonance imaging on some mentally retarded survivor's brain has discovered a large portion of abnormally located gray matter indicating an aberration in the neuronal migration (World Health Organization, 1995).

As noted, nuclear weapons emit radiation which can trigger small head size and mental retardation. According to Schull, Otake, & Neel (1981), a review of the association between small head size and anthropometric measurements like weight, height and the circumference of the chest affirms that that people with small head size have smaller anthropogenic measurements compared to normocephalics (Nakamura, 2006). This finding suggests that small-head size radiation is directly proportional to the growth retardation.

Cancer Risk

Studies have proven that nuclear weapon can discharge high radiation that poses the risk for cancer in both the attack survivors and their children. Schull, Otake, & Neel (1981) demonstrated that a mutagen like radiation can increase the possibility of a mutation occurring in the body, thus, causing cancer. The deadly effect suffered by children is leukemia. About two years after the attack, an increase in leukemia may appear and develop.

Possible Environmental Risks

Various environmental effects are likely to occur from the explosion. Often, the fall out area of the nuclear detonation is extremely radioactive. However, it can be noted that the rate of physical exposure to gamma rays may decrease rapidly with time (Toon, Robock, & Turco, 2014). The action of radioactivity may result in the denial of the use of land and water. Denial on the use of water, for instance, would be expected due to speedy dilution of fallout deposited on water surfaces. Significant contamination would likely to occur in areas bordering the institution.

Further, the ground water around the University of Texas would also be contaminated but the increased discharge of radioactivity would originate from the activated materials found on the surface (Wor...