Scholarly papers* on the design of atomic weapons would be better if the equations indicated how many humans would be killed.

So why cavil at the author suggesting, through the thoughful use of examples that certain modes of acting have real world consequences ?

* Undoubtedly heavily classified. But have a look at the unclassified article I have linked to in another submission on nuclear warhead reentry vehicle design...

Certain assumptions would have to be made on the density of inhabitation of the target zones.