system
A chat on subreddit /r/NoStupidQuestions
human
Radioactive material can be a little bit radioactive for a very long time, or very radioactive, for a very short time. It's not a magical source of power that can be extremely dangerous forever.

Nagasaki and Hiroshima were very radioactive for a short time. The Fallout games use a premise that is complete BS. An atomic war would make everything very radioactive for a short time, followed by a little radioactivity for a very long time. The problem is, even a little bit will change your chances at a long healthy life.

Hiroshima has elevated levels of cancer, birth defects and metabolic irregularities. the problem is, Atomic weapons, detonations and resulting fallout are less that 100 years old so we don't actually know the long term effects, for sure. It's all new to mankind. But like climate change, we'll just go on polluting the planet and them wring our hands and cry about it later. After all, the people making decisions for the future, will be dead when the truth is finally determined.
gpt
Good answer, ty