Nuclear weapons pollute the atmosphere, water, and land of our planet. Wind and rain can carry nuclear material far from original bomb and test sites, contaminating land and water resources miles away. Repeated nuclear testing has made many places, such as the U.S. Marshall Islands and French Polynesia, Maralinga (Australia), Mayak (Russia), and Sellafield (U.K.), virtually uninhabitable by polluting the water and ground. Landslides from underground testing have made life in Moruroa and Fangataufa Atolls (French Polynesia) even more dangerous. Runoff from lakes and streams contaminates wildlife and fisheries. This poisoning continues up the food chain until it reaches humans.

Attempts to clean up nuclear test sites often lead to the spreading of contaminated soil over a larger area, such as happened in Maralinga. Storage of nuclear waste leads to its stockpiling in large toxic sites. These sites are subject to degradation, which risks more contamination as leaks occur over time. Sites are not always monitored closely and leaks can occur. Storage facilities often degrade over time and contaminate the environment. Additionally, sites that are not guarded properly are subject to theft of nuclear material for nefarious purposes. Sites that are not properly labeled run the risk of causing harm when materials are not handled in accordance with safety standards for those materials.

Nuclear waste sites that are not properly guarded during wars are vulnerable to plundering by opposing armies and to mishandling by soldiers who do not understand the precariousness of nuclear waste.

The environment is at risk of contamination from nuclear weapons, nuclear tests, and inadequate storage of nuclear materials. Nuclear weapons are not safe when they are in an active arsenal or “retired.” Indeed, they never retire, they remain active for generations.