facts about nuclear testing
Resuming explosive nuclear weapons testing, as some former government officials are advocating, is unnecessary and would introduce environmental, health, and economic risks for Nevadans. Testing would also damage national and global security.
The Nevada National Security Site plays a critical role in an innovative science-based program that does a better job at ensuring the safety and reliability of these weapons than explosive testing ever did.
Bad for Nevadans
Renewed underground explosive testing would occur 65 miles outside of Las Vegas and pose risks to people’s health, the environment, and the state’s economy.
One mistake or accident could increase health risks, including elevating well-documented cancer risks associated with radiation exposure.
Resuming nuclear testing would do additional permanent damage to the environment and could further threaten scarce water sources.
Earthquake-like tremors from testing would reverberate literally and figuratively through Nevada’s tourism and real estate industries with a negative economic impact.
Nuclear testing would put more dangerous nuclear materials on Nevada roads and highways, creating risks for accidents and targets for theft or seizure.
Bad for america and the world
Resumed testing would set off a chain reaction of nuclear testing by other countries, fueling a dangerous nuclear arms race.
Testing would scuttle a global test ban treaty signed by more than 180 countries, including the U.S., Russia, China, and every NATO ally, and undermine another cornerstone agreement that prevents the spread of nuclear weapons to more countries.
Breaking the long-held testing moratorium would jeopardize U.S. national security, inviting other countries like Russia and China to follow suit, and erode the U.S. scientific advantage.
Nuclear powers restarting testing would mean more global instability, fuel an arms race, and increase the risk of nuclear weapons use – by mistake or on purpose.