One of the largest concerns of the general public towards nuclear energy is that of safety, both of the plants themselves and of the toxic waste they generate.
Accidents at nuclear plants have captured worldwide attention for the potential dangers of nuclear energy. The public invariably recalls the cases of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where atomic bombs were dropped and horrific deaths, injuries, and long-term effects of radiation affected the people living there. Nuclear power plant accidents, while not as dreadful, have occurred.
The worst nuclear accident in the United States occurred at Three Mile Island near Harrisburg, Pa. in 1979. Equipment malfunctions and worker error cause a reactor at the plant to overheat and meltdown, the worst possible kind of nuclear accident. However, there was no breach in the containment wall and no radiation leaked out of the plant. There were no deaths and no incidences of severe radiation exposure. There were little to no adverse short- and long-term effects on the surrounding environment and surrounding communities. In fact, the Three Mile Island accident has done a great deal to enhance the safety of nuclear power plants, from improved reactor design to emergency response protocols and more robust inspection standards.[1]
A sudden release of energy destroyed a reactor at Chernobyl in 1986 and released radioactive material into the environment. Despite evacuations and emergency response, about 30 people died due to the blast and radiation poisoning, several children developed cancer, and thousands may die in the future from cancer as a result of the radiation. U.S. Reactors are designed differently than the Chernobyl reactor, and involve a greater degree of control over the reactor, more backup safety measures, and have more containment structures in place to prevent leakage of radiation into the environment. Thus, it is unlikely a similar accident would happen in the U.S.[2]
The Technology Roadmap for Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems recommends that safety be the first consideration in the design and operation of nuclear reactors. In addition to robust and easily understood safety features, on-site emergency response teams and emergency plans for every situation are recommended.
Research by Margaret Rich
