Page 27 - E-Learning Modul ESD

Underwater Wonder

Greenpeace

Nuclear weapons
Nuclear weapon tests that are conducted above ground or under water can release radiation
into the atmosphere. A nuclear test is the explosive test of a complete nuclear warhead - some
tests in the twentieth century were conducted in areas occupied by soldiers. Most of the troops
ordered to take part in the testing programme were not equipped with any specialised

protective clothing. They were simply ordered to turn their backs or cover their eyes to avoid
being blinded by the flash of the explosion. One former soldier remembers having his hands
over his eyes but the flash was so bright that it acted like an X-ray and he could see all the
bones in his hands.
Exposure to radioactivity frequently leads to various forms of cancer, including leukaemia. The
troops involved have suffered much higher cancer rates than normal. However, because
cancer may take years to develop, it is difficult to prove that a particular case is linked to a
particular cause.

Learning Module Organisms and Their Environment | Class 11 18