The End Of War.. Why Should We?

In a conventional non-nuclear World War III the chances of nuclear reactors being damaged or destroyed would be significant as it would be to uranium mines, nuclear waste storage sites.

Below: Concrete-steel silos, or dry casks, used for storing highly radioactive spent nuclear fuel. These casks are used to store tens of thousands of metric tons of highly radioactive spent nuclear fuel while awaiting permanent disposal.

The chances of a nuclear attack completely avoiding nuclear reactors, waste sites, and research facilities are extremely low.

While nuclear power plants might not be primary targets, the chaos of war could lead to severe nuclear incidents due to collateral damage, infrastructure collapse, and military strikes on energy grids.

Potential Nuclear Risks

Nuclear Reactors & Power Plants

Meltdowns: Loss of cooling systems due to war-related damage could trigger reactor meltdowns.

Radiation Leaks: Direct strikes or indirect damage could breach containment structures, spreading radiation.

Fallout Contamination:Large areas could become uninhabitable for decades.

Uranium Mines & Processing Facilities

Mining Waste Dispersal: Explosions or fires could spread radioactive dust and contaminate groundwater.

Nuclear Waste Dumps & Storage Sites

High-Level Waste Exposure: If containment structures fail, radiation could spread uncontrollably.

Environmental Impact: Contaminated water sources, agricultural land, and air pollution would lead to widespread health crises.

World Nuclear Map (Nuclearplanet) is an interactive world map showing all civil nuclear power plants and radioactive waste repositories with key information on each site. Nuclearplanet was developed by the Swiss Nuclear Forum and is hosted on their website. It is available in English, French and German. Nuclearplanet is maintained and updated by the Swiss Nuclear Forum in cooperation with NucNet based on data taken from the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Power Reactor Information System (PRIS), the Swiss National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste (Nagra) and other dependable, primary sources.

Global Fallout & Radiation Spread

Nuclear Winter: Fires from detonations could send soot into the atmosphere, blocking sunlight and disrupting global climate patterns.

Mass Displacement: Entire regions would become uninhabitable, forcing survivors into overcrowded, resource-scarce areas.

Target Distribution – Nuclear reactors, waste storage sites, and research facilities are spread across the continent. The U.S. alone has around 90 nuclear power plants, many of which are located near major population centers or strategic locations. Canada also has several reactors, primarily in Ontario.

Strategic Targeting – In a large-scale nuclear conflict, adversaries would likely aim for military bases, infrastructure, and energy production sites. Nuclear facilities could be considered high-value targets due to their potential for secondary radiation effects.

Collateral Damage – Even if nuclear reactors weren’t directly targeted, the sheer destructive force of nuclear weapons could cause indirect damage. Shockwaves, fires, and radiation fallout could compromise containment structures, leading to hazardous leaks.

Safety Measures – Nuclear plants are designed with multiple layers of protection, including reinforced concrete containment structures3. However, they are not built to withstand direct nuclear strikes. While some reactors might survive an attack depending on distance and blast intensity, widespread damage would be difficult to avoid.

Fallout & Long-Term Effects – Even if reactors remain intact, nuclear fallout could contaminate surrounding areas, affecting water supplies, agriculture, and air quality. Research facilities handling radioactive materials could also be compromised, leading to long-term environmental hazards.

While nuclear plants are built with safety in mind, a full-scale nuclear attack would almost certainly result in some level of damage to these sites. The extent of the impact would depend on the number of warheads used, their yield, and the specific targeting strategy.

1. Nuclear Reactors & Power Plants

Direct Strikes: If nuclear power plants were hit directly, their containment structures could be breached, leading to uncontrolled radiation leaks.

Meltdowns: Even if not directly targeted, loss of power and cooling systems due to infrastructure collapse could trigger multiple reactor meltdowns.

Fallout Spread: Radiation from damaged reactors would contaminate surrounding areas, making large regions uninhabitable for decades.

2. Uranium Mines & Processing Facilities

Abandoned Mines: There are over 15,000 abandoned uranium mines worldwide, many of which already pose environmental risks. A nuclear war could further destabilize these sites, releasing radioactive dust and groundwater contamination.

Mining Waste: Uranium mill tailings—radioactive byproducts of uranium extraction—could be dispersed by explosions or fires, contaminating rivers and soil.

3. Nuclear Waste Dumps & Storage Sites

High-Level Waste Exposure: Nuclear waste storage facilities contain hundreds of thousands of tons of irradiated fuel. If containment structures fail, radiation could spread uncontrollably.

Long-Term Contamination: Some waste remains hazardous for tens of thousands of years. A nuclear war would make cleanup efforts nearly impossible.

Environmental Impact: Contaminated water sources, agricultural land, and air pollution would lead to widespread health crises.