The nuclear testing which was done in the continental USA was extremely minor by comparison, and that isn't saying much. Most of the bombs in continental tests were roughly Hiroshima-sized or smaller. Those "minor" tests are responsible for thousands of deaths and an almost incalculable numer of cancer cases, but be glad that at least they weren't stupid enough to test things like the 10-15 MT bombs in Nevada.
The tests in May 1953 were the asolute worst in terms of civilian exposure although all through the late '40's and '50's it was bad. I guess that was a good time to be living on the east coast. Gives one pause to consider how much our government actually cares about its citizens.
Oh well....at least they never felt the need to detonate a 50 megaton (INSANE!) superbomb just for chest-thumping like the Soviets did.
Given the incredibly massive numer of nuclear weapons which were detonated by the USA and USSR in the 50's (hundreds of them, most of which were far more "dirty" then modern bomb designs), I tend to think that the fear of a nuclear war wiping out humanity is over-rated. Short-term effects, of course, would be devastating, but if radioactivity from nukes was going to render the earth uninhaitable....we'd already all be dead.
For an odd sort of fun sometime, tell your friends that the continental USA has been struck by well over 100 nuclear bombs. See how many of them believe you.
J_A_B
