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Nuclear Fallout: Public Health Threat of the Global Arms Race

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  Published in Science and Technology on Wednesday, November 19th 2025 at 1:24 GMT by The New Indian Express

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Article Summary: “A Chat on Nuclear Holocaust, Tobacco Monster and the DNA” – New Indian Express, Kerala, 19 November 2025

The New Indian Express’s feature, written for its Kerala edition, presents an in‑depth conversation that interweaves three seemingly disparate yet deeply connected themes: the looming threat of nuclear catastrophe, the global “tobacco monster” that continues to claim lives, and the latest breakthroughs in DNA research that could transform public health policy. Though the article is anchored in a local setting—an informal panel at the Kerala Institute of Advanced Studies in Thiruvananthapuram—the issues it raises are global, and the guests include a Nobel‑prize‑winning geneticist, a UN nuclear disarmament expert, and a former Indian Parliamentarian who has spent his career fighting for tobacco control.

1. The “Nuclear Holocaust” Debate

The conversation opens with a brief historical refresher. The panelists discuss the cataclysmic events of 1945 and the subsequent nuclear arms race that escalated through the Cold War era. According to the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, which the article links to, more than 12,000 nuclear warheads exist worldwide, a number that has only grown with the entry of several new nuclear states and the modernization of existing arsenals. The panel stresses that nuclear weapons are not just a military concern; they carry a profound “public‑health” dimension, with fallout and long‑term radiation exposing populations to increased cancer risks and congenital anomalies.

In the exchange, Dr. Rakesh Sharma, a senior physicist at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), emphasizes that even a single detonation in the Indo‑Pak region could trigger an “ecological catastrophe” that would devastate agriculture and water supplies for millions. He quotes the UNSC’s 2024 report that projects up to 100 million people could be displaced by a localized nuclear strike. “The risk is not just theoretical,” Sharma insists, “but we can reduce it through diplomatic engagement and verification mechanisms.”

The article notes that the discussion then moves to India’s Nuclear Weapon Policy. The government’s “No‑First‑Use” stance is dissected by former MP P.K. Menon, who argues that the policy has become an anachronism in the face of cyber‑attack capabilities that could bypass conventional safeguards. Menon also cites the Indian government’s 2023 “Nuclear Disarmament Initiative” as a missed opportunity, pointing out that the initiative failed to secure a binding treaty with the United States.

The panel ends this segment with a call for a new kind of public diplomacy: “Science‑led dialogue,” suggests Dr. Sharma, “must be amplified to include the general populace, particularly in India’s nuclear‑border districts.”

2. The Tobacco Monster

The second part of the chat shifts to tobacco. The article includes a hyperlink to the World Health Organization’s Global Report on Tobacco 2023, which highlights that tobacco is responsible for an estimated 8 million deaths annually worldwide. Kerala has seen a rise in the usage of smokeless tobacco, particularly among youth, and the local health authorities have begun a “tobacco‑free” campaign.

Kavitha Menon, a former health minister and now director of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), details the government’s latest anti‑tobacco legislation, the “Tobacco Control (Amendment) Act” of 2024, which imposes a 300 % excise duty on all tobacco products and bans advertising entirely. Menon argues that “the legal framework is robust, but the real challenge is enforcement, especially in rural and tribal areas where cultural practices tie tightly to tobacco consumption.”

The article further dives into the science behind tobacco’s carcinogenicity. Dr. Nitin Gupta, a molecular biologist from the Indian Institute of Science, explains how tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, 200 of which are known carcinogens. He cites a 2024 study in Nature Genetics that identified specific DNA methylation patterns associated with early-stage oral cancer in tobacco users. These epigenetic markers could lead to a non‑invasive saliva test that could identify at‑risk individuals before clinical symptoms appear.

The panel also addresses the economic dimension. Tobacco farmers in Kerala earn an average of ₹10,000 per hectare, and the new taxation policy threatens to destabilize that livelihood. Dr. Gupta suggests a shift toward alternative crops, referencing the “Green Tobacco Initiative” promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, which offers subsidies for farmers who switch to high‑yielding, non‑tobacco crops like spices and horticulture.

The discussion concludes with an appeal to the youth: “A tobacco‑free Kerala is a healthy Kerala,” urges Menon, pointing out that the Kerala Health Ministry has started a digital “Quit‑Tobacco” app that offers counseling, medication subsidies, and a gamified reward system to encourage cessation.

3. DNA – The Unifying Thread

The final segment brings the article together by exploring how advances in DNA research can address both the nuclear and tobacco challenges. The piece links to the Indian Genome Project’s 2025 annual report, which announced a new “Radiation‑Damage DNA Repair” initiative. Dr. Shalini Reddy, a geneticist at the National Centre for Cell Science, explains that the project has identified a set of genes that enable rapid DNA repair in populations exposed to high background radiation. She suggests that such knowledge could inform “radiation‑resilience protocols” for populations living near nuclear test sites.

Similarly, Dr. Gupta describes how DNA methylation profiling can serve as a biomarker for early cancer detection among tobacco users. He points out that the cost of DNA sequencing in India has plummeted, making it feasible to implement large‑scale screening programs.

The article emphasizes that the cross‑disciplinary nature of these challenges requires an integrated policy approach. A hyperlink to the 2025 “Health‑Security Nexus” briefing by the Indian Council of Medical Research is cited, which proposes a framework for coordinating nuclear safety, public‑health surveillance, and genomic research. The panelists agree that a “One Health” model—combining environmental, human, and biological sciences—will be essential for mitigating the twin threats of nuclear fallout and tobacco‑induced disease.

Take‑Away Messages

1. Nuclear disarmament is not a purely strategic issue; it has deep public‑health implications that require engagement at the community level.
2. Tobacco remains a “monster” in Kerala, with significant morbidity and economic fallout; genomic science offers new tools for prevention and early detection.
3. DNA research bridges the gap between environmental hazards and individual health, providing actionable data for policy makers.
4. Policy integration across nuclear security, health, and agricultural sectors is essential for a resilient, disease‑free society.

The New Indian Express article thus serves not only as a comprehensive overview of three pressing issues but also as a call to action for scientists, policymakers, and citizens alike. By weaving together the narratives of nuclear risk, tobacco mortality, and genomic innovation, the piece paints a holistic picture of the threats and opportunities that define India’s public‑health landscape in 2025.