text: 229. For the nation as a rthole, a rnost serious probl-em \.rou1d be the destruction of many social and political institutions at a time when demands would far exceed the norrnal- capacity of such institutions" had they remained viable. A countervalueettsck could well entail the successive decay, if not the sudden co11apse, ofsocietal structure.^/ 35 /392 E1eli sh Annex Page 04 230. The consequences of a majoT nuclear r,rar would not be restricted to the nuclear-r,,eapon States. Even if theTe vere no direct nuclear attack against any non-nuc leaJ-weapon State, there are probable colfateral effects frorn a nuclear var between the super-Powers. In a longer perspective, fallout radiation after a large nuclear r'rar r.rould affect the r^rhole vorld ( although pred-ominantly the herLisphere in vhich the var was fought). The same could hold true for some other ptrysical effects lnfluencing the environnent, such as the dispersal of nitTous oxides and dust in tlle atmosphere. 231. Of the world-r,ride effects associated. with nuclear warfare ' that of g1obal fallout is the nost thorouShl-y studied" ard linom. The different ways in which "irl.r". radioactivity ( in.fuiiing tritiura and. carbon 1)1, vhich are not d.eposited on the ground) can reach and irrad.iate huma.ns have largely been derived from emnirically established fall-out intensities produced by atmospheric tests (see r"ii. I beiov). The transport of vater-borne activity vith ocean currents has al_so been investigated. These surveys have been supplenented by laboretory lesearch regarding the effects of ionizing radiations on living organisns' 232. The result of this knowled€le has been applied to an trunrestricted" nuclear '\'Iar in a nunber of studies, 25/ and, ih" "o"r.=pording to11 of the lrorldis population o'er the years ( includinfi-fotu"" generati.ons ) has been estinated' As an example' g1obal fallout frolt1 a total explosive yield of fO'OOO l4t', i'e' vell over half of
analysis: The text appears to discuss the consequences of a nuclear war, including the effects on society, the environment, and human health. It highlights the potential for global fallout and its impact on the entire world, not just the immediate combatants. The text also touches on the scientific research that has been conducted to understand the effects of nuclear radiation on living organisms.