Nuclear power

Risks from nuclear power generation

As you read this introduction, think about two questions:

1. What risks does nuclear power generation pose to human life and the environment?

2. What technology seeks to protect us from those risks?

Radiation is all around us. It comes from the Earth and from outer space. Many forms of radiation are invisible — we can't feel it, see it, taste it, or smell it. But what is radiation? Radioactive materials are composed of atoms that are unstable. An unstable atom gives off its excess energy until it becomes stable. The energy emitted is radiation. We can classify radiation as being either natural and man‐made.

The Earth is surrounded by radiation. Every day, for example, we are exposed to radon, a radioactive gas from uranium found in soil dispersed in the air; from radioactive potassium in our food and water; from uranium, radium, and thorium in the Earth's crust; and from cosmic rays and the sun.

These types of radiation are called natural or background radiation. In the U.S. we are exposed to an average of 300 millirems of natural radiation each year (a millirem is a unit of measure for exposure to radiation). Naturally-occurring radiation accounts for approximately 80 percent of our daily exposure. The rest mostly comes from medical procedures, including x-rays. Only a tiny fraction of our exposure (less than 1/100 of a percent [0.01%])comes from nuclear power generation.

Review the graphs below that show how we are exposed to radiation in our everyday lives. These baseline levels help us understand the added risks of nuclear technology.

At low levels of radiation exposure, the main health risks include a number of types of cancer over time. High levels of radiation exposure lead to immediate health risks due to "radiation sickness".

Watch this video (starting a 2:22) which addresses some of the risks of nuclear energy compared to other sources:

https://youtu.be/d7LO8lL4Ai4?t=142

Comprehension Check

1. What is the greatest source of man-made radiation exposure for most people?

2. What are some of the long-term consequences of radiation exposure?

3. Does nuclear energy cause more or less deaths than coal-based fuel each year?

Check your answers