Proliferation of nuclear weapons: opportunities for control and abolition.
Nuclear weapons pose a particularly destructive threat. Prevention of the proliferation and use of nuclear weapons is urgently important to public health. "Horizontal" proliferation refers to nation-states or nonstate entities that do not have, but are acquiring, nuclear weapons or developing the capability and materials for producing them. "Vertical" proliferation refers to nation-states that do possess nuclear weapons and are increasing their stockpiles of these weapons, improving the technical sophistication or reliability of their weapons, or developing new weapons. Because nation-states or other entities that wish to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons need methods for delivering those weapons, proliferation of delivery mechanisms must also be prevented. Controlling proliferation--and ultimately abolishing nuclear weapons--involves national governments, intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental and professional organizations, and society at large.
Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10467, USA. vsidel@igc.org
Victor W
VW
Sidel
Barry S
BS
Levy
D014943:Global Health; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007390:International Agencies; D007391:International Cooperation / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D038622:Internationality; D009689:Nuclear Warfare / Q000266:history / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009938:Organizations; D011057:Politics; D011634:Public Health / Q000266:history*; D011640:Public Policy; D012941:Social Responsibility; D014481:United States; D047789:World War II