A groundbreaking report from Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) reveals nuclear weapons testing has inflicted catastrophic global health consequences, causing approximately four million premature deaths from cancer and related illnesses worldwide. The comprehensive 304-page study documents how over 2,400 nuclear detonations conducted between 1945 and 2017 continue to affect populations across continents.
The research highlights how radiation exposure from atmospheric testing has left radioactive isotopes in the bones of every living person today. The report identifies particularly severe impacts on communities near test sites in 15 countries, many former colonies of nuclear-armed states, where residents experience elevated rates of cancer, congenital abnormalities, and intergenerational trauma.
Hinamoeura Cross, a 37-year-old Tahitian parliamentarian who developed leukemia at age 24, represents the human toll of these tests. Her family history includes thyroid cancer in her grandmother, mother, and aunt—conditions she attributes to France’s 193 nuclear explosions in French Polynesia between 1966 and 1996. ‘These weren’t just tests. They were real bombs,’ Cross stated. ‘We were treated as guinea pigs.’
The study condemns a persistent culture of secrecy among nuclear-armed nations, with critical health and environmental data remaining classified in locations like Kiribati and Algeria. Compensation programs, where they exist, primarily function to limit liability rather than provide meaningful support to victims.
Medical experts contributing to the report emphasize that ionizing radiation from testing causes DNA damage, cardiovascular disease, and genetic effects even at low doses. Children and fetuses face the highest risks, with females 52% more vulnerable to radiation-induced cancer than males.
The findings emerge amid concerning geopolitical developments, including former President Trump’s 2020 suggestion that the United States might resume nuclear testing. Researchers warn that renewed testing would compound existing health crises and undermine global non-proliferation efforts.