What types of injuries can be caused by the blast effect of a nuclear explosion?

The impact of a nuclear explosion produces a multitude of injuries, which makes the correct choice comprehensive in nature. The blast effect not only generates intense heat immediately following the explosion, leading to thermal burns on exposed skin, but also generates a powerful shockwave that can cause physical injuries such as fractures or shrapnel wounds from debris.

Thermal burns occur as a result of radiant heat, often igniting clothing or causing skin damage. On the other hand, the explosive wave can displace objects and result in the projection of shrapnel, causing penetrating injuries. Hence, both types of injuries mentioned are direct consequences of the nuclear blast effects.

Nerve damage and the various types of injuries linked with it are not limited strictly to the blast itself but can arise from other aspects like radiation exposure or contaminations. While these are serious concerns, they do not encompass the immediate and direct physical injuries sustained from the explosive force and heat of a nuclear explosion.

Thus, recognizing that both thermal burns and traumas such as fractures or shrapnel wounds occur as a result of the nuclear explosion solidifies the reasoning behind the choice being the most accurate representation of the injuries caused by such an event.