When the US began testing (above-ground) nuclear weapons in 1951,
I was 2 years old and living in Salt Lake City, Utah. It received
a lion's share of the subsequent radioactive fallout and anyone in
the area at the time is considered a 'Downwinder' for being
downwind of the nuclear blasts.

My sister had to have her thyroid removed when she was 24 and 8 months
pregnant. That daughter also had to have hers removed. The state of
Utah tracks the 'Downwinders' to follow health trends...none good there.

Anyone else a 'Downwinder'? I have had no issues, that I know of, though
I required a hysterectomy at age 28.

http://www.citylab.com/equity/2014/08/atomic-tests-were-a-tourist-draw-in-1950s-las-vegas/375802/

Gladly I am not but I understand the trepidation a 'downwinder' might feel.
Many times people focus on an event and the 'downwinders' are forgotten.

I think its VERY important for people to realize these events cause a cascade of events that are just as bad or sometimes worse than the event itself.

For all of those whose lives have been changed, I feel sorry.
I am sorry because I would be one of those that support the event that caused such a long lasting condition. Frankly, I never considered the effects in entirety.

There have been many 'tests' creating a multitude of 'downwinders' of different specific conditions.
People focus on the event but fail to account for the resultant related events.

Your thread gives us focus on the unforeseen events that happen we never fathom.
I didn't watch the video, I need no reinforcement.
People are insane, the things they do.
The issue is, there are more people being born than die.
We are all 'downwind' of that.
Our children and grandchildren are all 'downwind' of its result.

If we can't focus on the issues behind us, how can we hope to understand the issue before us.

It is quite sickening isn't it. So sorry to hear about your family and you. A hysterectomy at that age is quite something :(
Needing to have your thyroid removed can't be easy either, phew.

I'm not a downwinder of US testing as I'm obviously not in the US. I don't know what rather direct outfall we have had here.
I know France did 210 nuclear test, but as far as I know not in Europe but French Polynesia.
Bleep knows how many the US has done... Not to mention Russia?

During Chernobyl I was living in Jakarta. Dutch people were talking about the radioactive cloud going their way and it was great weather then so many had been outdoors, sunbathing.
Maybe I got lucky being in Jakarta if it indeed blew the other way, no clue.

In any case, I'm not a downwinder.

What we did not know then, but know now, can kill us.

You might have gotten lucky there Crystal..I have always heard
that if you moved around a lot when you were a child (your growing
years being the point) that having been exposed to many different
municipal water systems precludes a LOT of issues..healthwise.