12m toll seen in nuclear exchange

WASHINGTON - A nuclear war between Pakistan and India could dwarf any catastrophe in world history, killing up to 12 million people in South Asia.

But the radioactive fallout probably would not harm Americans half a world away. In fact, because of the combined effects of distance, dispersion, and dilution, the increased amount of radiation in US air would be barely measurable, health specialists say.

''As concerned as we need to be for the Indian and Pakistani populations, the concern for ourselves here is not proportionate to the risk,'' said Cham Dallas, a University of Georgia toxicologist.

Dallas, who is helping the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention coordinate medical response to possible nuclear attacks on the United States, said, ''The effects here in the United States will be minimal.''