In the 1940s, the Manhattan project and the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki shocked the world with the enormously destructive potential of human technology. America raced to create atomic bombs during World War II due to fears that Germany was already working on creating weapons of mass destruction. The United States deployed the world's first atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II in an attempt to end the war with Japan. Nicknamed "Little Boy" and "Fat Man", the atomic bombs caused over two hundred thousand deaths from initial impact and long-term radiation effects. Radiation-induced cancer and birth defects from the bombings demonstrated the devastating impacts of nuclear warfare on a population.

Following World War II, tensions caused by the Cold War led to the nuclear arms race, which furthered humanity’s fears that nuclear warfare would lead to a post-apocalyptic wasteland. With countries’ development of nuclear weapons, the concept of mutually assured destruction was the only safeguard protecting the world from obliteration. Since then, the frightening fact that humans can—and will—annihilate themselves with nuclear technology has shaped various media. Governments’ lack of communication with the public also led to widespread concerns about the development of nuclear weapons. Much of the popular media of this era use the eco horror genre to project fears of humanitarian and environmental catastrophes. 

More recent nuclear disasters such as Chernobyl and Fukushima have further intensified fears. The 1986 Chernobyl disaster was an accident at a nuclear power station in the Soviet Union. Several thousand experienced health impacts from the disaster, and radiation fallout also had detrimental and long-lasting impacts on the surrounding ecosystems. Fukushima was another catastrophic nuclear accident that occurred in 2011. These devastating incidents heightened fears about nuclear power, inspiring the radiation eco horror genre. 

One common idea that these texts convey is that uncontrolled technological progress is not the best way for society to advance. In radiation eco horror, texts often explore the threat of nuclear warfare—warfare that is a result of uncontrolled progress in weapons development.  Many texts portray rapid technological progress alongside nuclear disaster, and show how new technologies do not save humans from the effects of nuclear disaster. Additionally, in some texts, the destruction of technology can result in an improved society that places less emphasis on capitalism and profit. However, this restructuring of society is often too late, because communities are destroyed by radiation, and there is a shortage of resources for survival. 

Although there are common themes that are shown through various modes of eco-horror media, there are rare instances where they break away from these ideas. For example, instead of the environment being antagonized, it could be potentially seen as something beautiful. This can be reflected through the setting of the story or the color palette of the film, while still keeping the archetypal eco horror aspects. This gives a different perspective on the genre and allows its audience to experience different yet significant feelings. For example, the feelings of fear may not stem from the environment, but from the unknown aspects of it. In a post-apocalyptic environment, there is no guarantee of what the future holds. Ideas such as these play a major role in non-typical forms of eco horror media. 

Following the Cold War, radiation eco horror was less prevalent in popular media due to the concept of mutually assured destruction and arms control agreements made between the United States and the Soviet Union that reduced fears of nuclear catastrophe in the public conscience. However, in recent years, the geopolitical conflicts within the Russia-Ukraine region have sparked real fears of thrusting our world into the apocalyptic landscapes foretold in some of our most popular stories. When Russia seized control of one of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, there were fears that this acquisition could lead to a release of radioactive materials. Russia shelled the power plant and set one of the buildings ablaze. Russia’s withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty has also furthered apprehensions about a future nuclear attack. These significant events highlight the impact that radiation had on the eco horror genre not only in the past, but in the present. The Doomsday Clock, which is run by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, tracks how close we are to global disaster due to nuclear fallout or climate change—it is currently set at the highest risk level it has ever been at. Given the extreme risk of disaster we face, there will likely be more radiation eco-horror in the future as people cope with anxieties of impending doom.