Did China's Nuclear Tests Kill Thousands and Doom Future Generations?

Scientific American by Zeeya Merali | Jun. 22, 2009 (News Report)

Radioactive clouds hung over villagers as China detonated nuclear bombs in the air for four decades

Three decades on, Tohti, now a medical doctor, is launching an investigation into the toll still being taken—and one that the Chinese government steadfastly refuses to acknowledge. A few hundred thousand people may have died as a result of radiation from at least 40 nuclear explosions carried out between 1964 and 1996 at the Lop Nur site in Xinjiang Full Story »

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4.2

by Kaizar Campwala - Jun. 23, 2009

Excellent read about an issue I was not aware of. The strength of this piece is in the contextual information about nuclear testing, not just in China but in other parts of the world. Also gets high points for fairness, in pointing out that these tests were carried out by many countries around the world.

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4.3

by Glenn LaBauve - Jun. 22, 2009

This is a well done piece without the necessary access to classified material. It probably would have shown much more cause for concern had that access been granted.

The US, former USSR, France, possibly either South Africa or Israel (1970s Indian Ocean Test which no nation claimed responsibility) India, Pakistan and North Korea have all released radio isotopes in addition to fallout. The difference is fallout can normally be seen and decontamination can take place with radio isotopes there is not normally any visable manifestation and it is readily ingested without knowledge. Underground tests are safer than above agound tests, but they are ... More »

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3.9

by Dwight Rousu - Jun. 22, 2009

The effects of exposure to nuclear radiation have been concealed by most of the nuclear powers. The secrecy in China here is pealed back by the investigations that are reported.

Envision a nuke-free world. We are all down-winders.

accumulating data suggest “that there is serious genetic damage in people living in these contaminated areas,” More »

Dwight posted this story.

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4.4

by Tanya J. Maurer - Jun. 26, 2009

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4.2

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