Ending nuclear weapons, before they end us

Kamran Abbasi; Parveen Ali; Virginia Barbour; Marion Birch; Inga Blum; Peter Doherty; Andy Haines; Ira Helfand; Richard Horton; Kati Juva; Jose F. Lapena Jr; Robert Mash; Olga Mironova; Arun Mitra; Carlos Monteiro; Elena N. Naumova; David Onazi; Tilman Ruff; Peush Sahni; James Tumwine; Carlos Umaña; Paul Yonga; Chris Zielinski

doi:10.12688/f1000research.163970.1

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Editorial

Ending nuclear weapons, before they end us

[version 1; peer review: not peer reviewed]

Kamran Abbasi¹, Parveen Ali², Virginia Barbour³, [...] Marion Birch^4,5, Inga Blum^6,7, Peter Doherty⁸, Andy Haines⁹, Ira Helfand¹⁰, Richard Horton¹¹, Kati Juva^12,13, Jose F. Lapena Jr^14,15, Robert Mash^16,17, Olga Mironova^13,18, Arun Mitra^13,19, Carlos Monteiro^20,21, Elena N. Naumova^22,23, David Onazi^13,24, Tilman Ruff^10,25, Peush Sahni^26,27, James Tumwine^28,29, Carlos Umaña^13,30, Paul Yonga^31,32, Chris Zielinski^33,34

Kamran Abbasi¹, Parveen Ali², [...] Virginia Barbour³, Marion Birch^4,5, Inga Blum^6,7, Peter Doherty⁸, Andy Haines⁹, Ira Helfand¹⁰, Richard Horton¹¹, Kati Juva^12,13, Jose F. Lapena Jr^14,15, Robert Mash^16,17, Olga Mironova^13,18, Arun Mitra^13,19, Carlos Monteiro^20,21, Elena N. Naumova^22,23, David Onazi^13,24, Tilman Ruff^10,25, Peush Sahni^26,27, James Tumwine^28,29, Carlos Umaña^13,30, Paul Yonga^31,32, Chris Zielinski^33,34

PUBLISHED 19 May 2025

Author details Author details

¹ Editor-in-Chief, BMJ, London, UK
² Editor-in-Chief, International Nursing Review, Sheffield, UK
³ Editor-in-Chief, Medical Journal of Australia, Brisbane, Australia
⁴ University College London, London, UK
⁵ Editor-in-Chief, Medact, London, UK
⁶ Neurologist, General Practitioner, Jesteburg, Germany
⁷ At-large Board Member, IPPNW, Springfield, USA
⁸ Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Doherty Institute, Melbourne, Australia
⁹ London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
¹⁰ Past President, IPPNW, Springfield, USA
¹¹ Editor-in-Chief, The Lancet, London, UK
¹² Neurologist and University lecturer, Division of Psychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
¹³ Co-President, IPPNW, Springfield, USA
¹⁴ Neck Surgery & Vice President, WAME, Manila, Philippines
¹⁵ Lapena Jr, Philippine Journal of Otolaryngology Head, Manila, Philippines
¹⁶ Family Medicine & Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
¹⁷ Editor-in-Chief, African Journal of Primary Health Care, Stellenbosch, South Africa
¹⁸ Cardiologist, Russian Cardiology Research and Production Complex; Professor of the chair of Faculty Therapy, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russian Federation
¹⁹ President, Indian Doctors for Peace and Development, Ludhiana, India
²⁰ Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
²¹ Editor-in-Chief, Revista de Saúde Pública, São Paulo, Brazil
²² Professor and Chair, Tufts University, Boston, USA
²³ Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Public Health Policy, Boston, USA
²⁴ Senior Emergency Doctor & International Councillor, Society of Nigerian Doctors for the Welfare of Mankind, Abuja, Nigeria
²⁵ The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
²⁶ Professor and Head, MBBS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences [AIIMS], New Delhi, India
²⁷ Editor-in-Chief, National Medical Journal of India, New Delhi, India
²⁸ Professor and Dean, School of Medicine, Kabale University, Kampala, Uganda
²⁹ Editor-in-Chief, African Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
³⁰ General practitioner; Epidemiological Surveillance Officer, Costa Rican Ministry of Health, San José, Costa Rica
³¹ CA Medlynks Medical Centre and Laboratory, Nairobi, Kenya
³² Editor-in-Chief, East African Medical Journal, Nairobi, Kenya
³³ President, WAME, Delaware, USA
³⁴ Visiting Fellow, University of Winchester, Winchester, UK

Kamran Abbasi
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Parveen Ali
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Virginia Barbour
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Marion Birch
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Inga Blum
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Peter Doherty
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Andy Haines
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Ira Helfand
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Richard Horton
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Kati Juva
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Jose F. Lapena Jr
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Robert Mash
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Olga Mironova
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Arun Mitra
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Carlos Monteiro
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Elena N. Naumova
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

David Onazi
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Tilman Ruff
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Peush Sahni
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

James Tumwine
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Carlos Umaña
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Paul Yonga
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Chris Zielinski
Roles: Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing

OPEN PEER REVIEW

NOT PEER REVIEWED

Abstract

This May, the World Health Assembly (WHA) will vote on re-establishing a mandate for the World Health Organization (WHO) to address the health consequences of nuclear weapons and war. Health professionals and their associations should urge their governments to support such a mandate and support the new UN comprehensive study on the effects of nuclear war.

Keywords

nuclear weapons, World Health Organization, public education, evidence-based advocacy and policies

Corresponding author: Chris Zielinski

Competing interests: No competing interests were disclosed.

Grant information: The author(s) declared that no grants were involved in supporting this work.

Copyright: © 2025 Abbasi K et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

How to cite: Abbasi K, Ali P, Barbour V et al. Ending nuclear weapons, before they end us [version 1; peer review: not peer reviewed]. F1000Research 2025, 14:501 (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.163970.1) First published: 19 May 2025, 14:501 (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.163970.1) Latest published: 19 May 2025, 14:501 (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.163970.1)

Data availability

No data is associated with this article.

References

1. World Health Organization: Effects of nuclear weapons and war on health and health services. EB156/CONF./10, Executive Board, 5 Feb 2025. (accessed 4/3/2025). Reference Source
2. Tomonaga M: The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: a summary of the human consequences, 1945-2018, and lessons for Homo sapiens to end the nuclear weapon age. Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament. 2019; 2(2): 491–517. Publisher Full Text
3. NobelPrize.org: The Nobel Peace Prize 2024.2024. (accessed 25/2/2025). Reference Source
4. Award ceremony speech: Nobel Prize Outreach 2025.Tue. 25 Feb 2025. (accessed 25/2/2025). Reference Source Reference Source
5. Tannenwald N: The Nuclear Taboo: The United States and the Normative Basis of Nuclear Non-Use. Int. Organ. 1999; 53(3): 433–468. JSTOR. (accessed 3/3/2025). Publisher Full Text Reference Source
6. Robock A, Xia L, Harrison CS, et al.: Opinion: How fear of nuclear winter has helped save the world, so far. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2023; 23(12): 6691–6701. (accessed 4/3/2025). Publisher Full Text Reference Source
7. Helfand I, Haines A, Ruff T, et al.: The growing threat of nuclear war and the role of the health community. World Med. J. 2016; 62(3): 86–94.
8. Kristensen H, Korda M, Johns E, et al.: Status of world nuclear forces. Federation of American Scientists. (accessed 18/3/2025). Reference Source
9. Norwegian People’s Aid. Nuclear weapons ban monitor: 2024. February 2025. (accessed 25/3/2025). Reference Source
10. Science and Security Board: Closer than ever: It is now 89 seconds to midnight. 2025 Doomsday Clock Statement. Bull. At. Sci. 28 Jan 2025. (accessed 4/3/2025). Reference Source
11. Xia L, Robock A, Scherrer K, et al.: Global food insecurity and famine from reduced crop, marine fishery and livestock production due to climate disruption from nuclear war soot injection. Nat. Food. 2022; 3: 586–596. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
12. United Nations General Assembly: Nuclear war and scientific research. A/C.1/79/L.39 15 Oct 2024. (accessed 4/3/2025). Reference Source
13. (accessed 4/3/25). Reference Source
14. World Health Organization: Effects of nuclear war on health and health services. 2nd ed.Geneva: WHO; 1987. (accessed 4/3/2025). Reference Source
15. World Health Organization: Health and environmental effects of nuclear weapons. WHA46/30. 26 April 1993. (accessed 4.3.2025). Reference Source
16. Abbasi K, Ali P, Barbour V, et al.: Reducing the risks of nuclear war. BMJ. 2023; 382: 1682.
17. United Nations: Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.2017. (accessed 9/3/2025). Reference Source

Comments on this article Comments (0)

Version 1

VERSION 1 PUBLISHED 19 May 2025

Author details Author details

¹ Editor-in-Chief, BMJ, London, UK
² Editor-in-Chief, International Nursing Review, Sheffield, UK
³ Editor-in-Chief, Medical Journal of Australia, Brisbane, Australia
⁴ University College London, London, UK
⁵ Editor-in-Chief, Medact, London, UK
⁶ Neurologist, General Practitioner, Jesteburg, Germany
⁷ At-large Board Member, IPPNW, Springfield, USA
⁸ Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Doherty Institute, Melbourne, Australia
⁹ London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
¹⁰ Past President, IPPNW, Springfield, USA
¹¹ Editor-in-Chief, The Lancet, London, UK
¹² Neurologist and University lecturer, Division of Psychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
¹³ Co-President, IPPNW, Springfield, USA
¹⁴ Neck Surgery & Vice President, WAME, Manila, Philippines
¹⁵ Lapena Jr, Philippine Journal of Otolaryngology Head, Manila, Philippines
¹⁶ Family Medicine & Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
¹⁷ Editor-in-Chief, African Journal of Primary Health Care, Stellenbosch, South Africa
¹⁸ Cardiologist, Russian Cardiology Research and Production Complex; Professor of the chair of Faculty Therapy, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russian Federation
¹⁹ President, Indian Doctors for Peace and Development, Ludhiana, India
²⁰ Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
²¹ Editor-in-Chief, Revista de Saúde Pública, São Paulo, Brazil
²² Professor and Chair, Tufts University, Boston, USA
²³ Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Public Health Policy, Boston, USA
²⁴ Senior Emergency Doctor & International Councillor, Society of Nigerian Doctors for the Welfare of Mankind, Abuja, Nigeria
²⁵ The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
²⁶ Professor and Head, MBBS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences [AIIMS], New Delhi, India
²⁷ Editor-in-Chief, National Medical Journal of India, New Delhi, India
²⁸ Professor and Dean, School of Medicine, Kabale University, Kampala, Uganda
²⁹ Editor-in-Chief, African Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
³⁰ General practitioner; Epidemiological Surveillance Officer, Costa Rican Ministry of Health, San José, Costa Rica
³¹ CA Medlynks Medical Centre and Laboratory, Nairobi, Kenya
³² Editor-in-Chief, East African Medical Journal, Nairobi, Kenya
³³ President, WAME, Delaware, USA
³⁴ Visiting Fellow, University of Winchester, Winchester, UK

Kamran Abbasi
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Parveen Ali
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Virginia Barbour
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Marion Birch
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Inga Blum
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Peter Doherty
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Andy Haines
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Ira Helfand
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Richard Horton
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Kati Juva
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Jose F. Lapena Jr
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Robert Mash
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Olga Mironova
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Arun Mitra
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Carlos Monteiro
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Elena N. Naumova
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

David Onazi
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Tilman Ruff
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Peush Sahni
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

James Tumwine
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Carlos Umaña
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Paul Yonga
Roles: Writing – Review & Editing

Chris Zielinski
Roles: Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing

Competing interests

No competing interests were disclosed.

Grant information

The author(s) declared that no grants were involved in supporting this work.

Article Versions (1)

version 1

Published: 19 May 2025, 14:501

https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.163970.1

Copyright

© 2025 Abbasi K et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Abbasi K, Ali P, Barbour V et al. Ending nuclear weapons, before they end us [version 1; peer review: not peer reviewed]. F1000Research 2025, 14:501 (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.163970.1)

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[1] 1. World Health Organization: Effects of nuclear weapons and war on health and health services. EB156/CONF./10, Executive Board, 5 Feb 2025. (accessed 4/3/2025). Reference Source

[2] 2. Tomonaga M: The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: a summary of the human consequences, 1945-2018, and lessons for Homo sapiens to end the nuclear weapon age. Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament. 2019; 2(2): 491–517. Publisher Full Text

[3] 3. NobelPrize.org: The Nobel Peace Prize 2024.2024. (accessed 25/2/2025). Reference Source

[4] 4. Award ceremony speech: Nobel Prize Outreach 2025.Tue. 25 Feb 2025. (accessed 25/2/2025). Reference Source Reference Source

[5] 5. Tannenwald N: The Nuclear Taboo: The United States and the Normative Basis of Nuclear Non-Use. Int. Organ. 1999; 53(3): 433–468. JSTOR. (accessed 3/3/2025). Publisher Full Text Reference Source

[6] 6. Robock A, Xia L, Harrison CS, et al.: Opinion: How fear of nuclear winter has helped save the world, so far. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2023; 23(12): 6691–6701. (accessed 4/3/2025). Publisher Full Text Reference Source

[7] 7. Helfand I, Haines A, Ruff T, et al.: The growing threat of nuclear war and the role of the health community. World Med. J. 2016; 62(3): 86–94.

[8] 8. Kristensen H, Korda M, Johns E, et al.: Status of world nuclear forces. Federation of American Scientists. (accessed 18/3/2025). Reference Source

[9] 9. Norwegian People’s Aid. Nuclear weapons ban monitor: 2024. February 2025. (accessed 25/3/2025). Reference Source

[10] 10. Science and Security Board: Closer than ever: It is now 89 seconds to midnight. 2025 Doomsday Clock Statement. Bull. At. Sci. 28 Jan 2025. (accessed 4/3/2025). Reference Source

[11] 11. Xia L, Robock A, Scherrer K, et al.: Global food insecurity and famine from reduced crop, marine fishery and livestock production due to climate disruption from nuclear war soot injection. Nat. Food. 2022; 3: 586–596. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text

[12] 12. United Nations General Assembly: Nuclear war and scientific research. A/C.1/79/L.39 15 Oct 2024. (accessed 4/3/2025). Reference Source

[13] 13. (accessed 4/3/25). Reference Source

[14] 14. World Health Organization: Effects of nuclear war on health and health services. 2nd ed.Geneva: WHO; 1987. (accessed 4/3/2025). Reference Source

[15] 15. World Health Organization: Health and environmental effects of nuclear weapons. WHA46/30. 26 April 1993. (accessed 4.3.2025). Reference Source

[16] 16. Abbasi K, Ali P, Barbour V, et al.: Reducing the risks of nuclear war. BMJ. 2023; 382: 1682.

[17] 17. United Nations: Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.2017. (accessed 9/3/2025). Reference Source

Ending nuclear weapons, before they end us

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