ill.t pr"""tttfy exists in the vorfdrs nuclear stockpiles, vould cause of the order or 5 io 10 riillion add.itional deaths from cancer within the next 40 years' In addition, a simifar amount of ( non-lethal) thyroid cancels vould result. Genetic da-mage rould appear in about as ma.ny instances as lethal cancerst half of vhich rqould be aanife;t in the following two generations and- the rest in generations thereafter. 233, nxtensive early fallout (i.e', frorn surface bursts) over nations not Ajrp-ilrr ihvnlwcd in a nuclea]' lrar may also occur. Tc quant ify estirnates of short- and long-term rad.iation injuries from this fallout is much rnore difficult thallfolglobalfallout,astheydependonmeteorolosicalconditionsandprotective measures taken. Under adverse conditions, cases of late cancers and hered'i""ary defects vould run into some roillions. 23)+. Ionizing rad.iation cou1d. pOssibly also cause many mutations in plants and animal_s. fhere has teen specul-ation that some of these mutations raight change the ecosystem in unpredictable ways ' but too little is known about the physical and tiological processes involved to make rrred"ictions in this field'Environmental effect s 25/ See, for instanc€, "Long Term 'l"treapoiE Detonations", Nat ional lcadenyE. Global aspects 'l^Iorldwide Effects of X1ulti?Ie Nucl-ear- of Sciences, I'lashington ' D.C.' 1975.A/35/392 nngl ish Annex raqe O,
**Analysis**
The text discusses the devastating effects of nuclear war, including the radiation-induced deaths, genetic damage, and environmental consequences. The focus is on the health and environmental impacts of a nuclear war, rather than economic or social aspects.

**Category**
Health, Natural resources and environment, Science and technology