Fallout: An American Nuclear Tragedy facts for kids
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| Author | Philip L. Fradkin |
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| Subject | Nuclear fallout |
| Publisher | University of Arizona Press |
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Publication date
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1989 |
| Pages | 300 |
| ISBN | 978-0-8165-1086-3 |
Fallout: An American Nuclear Tragedy by Philip L. Fradkin is a book first published in 1989 and updated in 2004. It tells an important story about the effects of nuclear weapons testing in the United States. The book focuses on people and their animals who lived downwind from the Nevada Test Site during the 1950s. These individuals were exposed to radiation from the nuclear tests.
The book uses a real court case, Irene Allen et al. vs. the United States, to help tell its story. This case was about people who believed their health problems were caused by the nuclear fallout. The court case ended with a decision to pay $2.66 million to several people. These people had serious health conditions like leukemia, thyroid cancer, and breast cancer.
Contents
About the Author
Philip Fradkin is an American environmentalist, historian, and journalist. He has written many books and articles. Fradkin is known for his work on environmental issues and history.
A Pulitzer Prize Winner
Philip Fradkin was part of a team of journalists who won a special award. He shared a Pulitzer Prize with the staff of the Los Angeles Times newspaper. They won this award for their news coverage of the Watts riots in 1965. This shows his skill and importance as a journalist.
Understanding Nuclear Fallout
When a nuclear weapon explodes, it creates a lot of energy and releases tiny particles. These particles can be radioactive. They rise into the air and then fall back to Earth. This is called nuclear fallout.
How Fallout Travels
The wind can carry these radioactive particles far away from the explosion site. People living "downwind" are in the path of this fallout. In the 1950s, the U.S. government conducted many nuclear tests in Nevada. The fallout from these tests traveled across parts of the western United States.
Health Concerns from Fallout
Exposure to high levels of radiation from fallout can be harmful. It can cause various health problems, sometimes many years later. The book Fallout: An American Nuclear Tragedy explores these serious health effects. It highlights the struggles of people who lived near the test sites.
The Nevada Test Site
The Nevada Test Site was a large area in Nevada where the U.S. government tested nuclear weapons. These tests happened above ground during the 1950s. The tests were part of the Cold War, a time when the United States and the Soviet Union were in a race to build powerful weapons.
Impact on Communities
Many communities were located downwind from the Nevada Test Site. People in these areas were often unaware of the dangers of nuclear fallout. They went about their daily lives while radioactive dust settled on their homes, farms, and water. The book tells the stories of these affected communities.
The Court Case: Irene Allen et al. vs. the United States
A major part of Fallout: An American Nuclear Tragedy is the court case Irene Allen et al. vs. the United States. This case was a landmark legal battle. It was one of the first times that people tried to hold the government responsible for health issues caused by nuclear testing.
Seeking Justice
The people involved in the lawsuit were "downwinders" who believed their illnesses were linked to the fallout. They sought justice and compensation for their suffering. The court case helped bring attention to the hidden costs of nuclear weapons development. It showed the human impact of these tests.
