Radiocarbon and Nuclear Terrorism

It should be noted that the total amount of natural background radiocarbon in the atmosphere and in all land organisms is only about 3200 kg, or 7000 lbs. That is why a relatively small amount, just 74 kg, of radiocarbon produced from the atmospheric testing of just one 30 megaton nuclear weapon could increase the worldwide atmospheric radiocarbon level by 2.3%. Although not pleasant to consider, an additional benefit of stockpiling low radiocarbon CO₂ in a recoverable manner is to provide for a safe emergency world food supply in the event of a catastrophe, such as a nuclear exchange or even a terrorist action, which could appreciably increase the background level of radiocarbon in the atmosphere for many years.