This book documents the public health consequences of war and describes what health professionals can do to minimize these consequences and even help prevent war altogether. It explores the effects of war on health, human rights, and the environment.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Arms and public health: a global perspective / William H. Foege -- Children, wars, and the responsibility of the international community / James P. Grant -- The human consequences of war / Richard M. Garfield and Alfred I. Neugut -- The impact of war on human rights / H. Jack Geiger -- The environmental consequences of war / Barry S. Levy, Gurinder S. Shahi, and Chen Lee -- The public health effects of the use of nuclear weapons / Kenjiro Yokoro and Nanao Kamada -- The public health effects of the use of chemical weapons / Alan H. Lockwood -- The public health effects of biological weapons / Robert Gould and Nancy D. Connell -- Environmental and health effects of weapons production, testing, and maintenance / Michael Renner -- The public health effects of land mines: long-term consequences for civilians / Eric Stover, James C. Cobey, and Jonathan Fine -- The impact of military activities on civilian populations / Barry S. Levy and Victor W. Sidel -- The psychological effects of war on children / Joanna Santa Barbara -- The impact of war on women / Mary-Wynne Ashford and Yolanda Huet-Vaughn -- Displaced persons and war / Michael J. Toole -- Public health and the Vietnam War / Myron Allukian and Paul L. Atwood -- Public health and war in Central America / Paula Braveman, Alan Meyers, Thomas Schlenker, and Curt Wands -- Public health and the Persian Gulf War / Eric Hoskins -- The roles and ethics of health professionals in war / Victor W. Sidel -- The roles of nongovernmental organizations in responding to health needs created by war / Barbara Smith -- Effective humanitarian aid: our only hope of intervention in civil war / James C. Cobey, Annette Flanagin, and William H. Foege -- Education for peace / Leland Miles -- Preventing nuclear war / Lachlan Forrow and Ernesto Kahan -- Nurses and the prevention of war: public health nurses and the peace movement in World War I / Elizabeth Temkin -- Keeping peace and preventing war: the role of the United Nations / Michael Renner -- Conflict resolution and mediation for health professionals / Nick Lewer -- Preventing war and its health consequences: roles of public health professionals / Barry S. Levy and Victor W. Sidel.