Part 3/16:

The atmospheric tests inflicted severe health issues, including high rates of birth defects and cancers, with some radioactive isotopes in the soil having half-lives stretching tens of thousands of years. Underground tests, conducted later to evade international bans, still seeped radioactive gases into the environment, leaving an enduring legacy of contamination. It is estimated that over 1.5 million Kazakh citizens were exposed to radiation, and today, the region continues to grapple with health crises—a haunting reminder of nuclear experimentation's terrifying scale.

The Geopolitical Significance of Kazakhstan’s Uranium Capacity