We need irreversible elimination of all stockpiles of nuclear weapons

Abbasi and colleagues remind the medical community of the humanitarian, ecological, and radiological dangers of nuclear war.1Since the 11 September attacks investigations have focused on pharmacological measures to counter accidental radiation exposure. Many such measures derive from the management of recipients of allogeneic stem cells while in remission from blood cancers who are prepared with a myeloablative regimen, usually of cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation. Recipients also require intense support including blood transfusion, antibiotics, and recombinant growth factors. Singh and Seed advocate pharmacological repurposing and a massive stockpiling of agents for managing major radiation exposures from accidents or nuclear attack.2 Candidate drugs such as recilisib sodium (Ex-Rad), which have novel modes of action and may be taken orally, also show promise.3Such approaches need careful re-evaluation, however, as they would need to deal with high numbers of irradiated people (and farm animals) as well as the greater radiation sensitivities of women…
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