75 Years of Nuclear Testing: Economic Assessment of Environmental Damage

Introduction: The article analyzes the results of 75 years of nuclear tests. The purpose of the work is to provide an economic assessment of the nuclear test damage to the environment. Methodology: We used general scientific methods: comparative analysis and complex and systematic approaches. Results: As a result, the author comes to the conclusion that the most severe damage to the environment and health of the population was observed in the initial period of nuclear tests when the problem of nuclear waste disposal was also identified. At this stage, atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons had not yet been banned, so the impact on the environment was as high as possible. In the second stage, since 1963, after the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water initiated by the Soviet side became valid, an understanding emerged that uncontrolled nuclear tests increase the threat of unintentional nuclear conflict and cause economic and environmental damage. The era of underground explosions that were safer for the environment began. This stage lasted until 1996 when all nations of the world, except India, Pakistan, and the DPRK, signed an agreement on a complete nuclear test ban. According to the author, it poses a threat to global security, especially considering economic and environmental factors, such as, most importantly, the cost of developing and maintaining the combat readiness of nuclear arsenals and exposure to health and environmental risks. Conclusions: Exploring new challenges, the author concludes that the introduction of effective control over nuclear tests, as well as the need to take into account environmental and social factors, requires a universal nuclear test ban.