Between 1951 and 1962, the U.S. conducted over 100 open-air nuclear tests, releasing radioactive fallout nationwide, according to the NIH. One of the most dangerous byproducts, iodine-131, targets the thyroid, especially in children, causing long-term health risks like thyroid cancer and autoimmune disorders. Fallout spread across the continental U.S., contaminating grass, cows, and milk. The National Cancer Institute confirms these tests created a widespread public health exposure.
Radioactive Fallout Blanketed Nearly the Entire U.S. in Gov’t Nuclear Tests
