Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Nuclear Power Plant Emergencies
Description and History
Nuclear reactors or power plants develop heat from controlled nuclear fission. The
heat, when produced, converts water into steam, which in turn powers generators
to produce electricity. Nuclear power plants operate in most states in the country
and produce about 20% of the nation's power. Nearly three million Americans
live within 10 miles of an operating nuclear power plant.
27
The construction and operation of nuclear power plants is regulated by the
National Regulatory Commission. Although this regulation occurs, human error
and other circumstances can lead to accidents. These accidents can lead to the
release of radioactive materials that can be detrimental to the health and well-being
of humans and animals in proximity to the nuclear power plant. This is typically
characterized as a plume (cloudlike formation) of gases and particles that are radio-
active. Radioactive materials are composed of atoms that have become unstable. An
unstable atom gives off its excess energy until it becomes stable. The energy emitted
is known as radiation. The hazard to people from these types of releases are related
to radiation exposure to the body by inhaling, ingesting, or coming into contact
with radioactive particles that have fallen to the ground. Radiation has a cumula-
tive effect. The longer a person is exposed to radiation, the greater the effects on the
body. A high exposure to radiation can cause serious illness or death.
One example of a nuclear power plant accident is that of the Chernobyl,
Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant on April 26, 1986. During this accident, a sudden
power surge caused a chain of events that destroyed Unit 4 at the nuclear power
plant, and released massive amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere.
The Chernobyl accident caused many severe radiation effects almost immediately.
Among the approximately 600 workers present on the site at the time of the acci-
dent, two died within hours of the reactor explosion and 134 received high radia-
tion doses and suffered from acute radiation sickness. Of these, 28 workers died in
the first four months after the accident. The Chernobyl accident also resulted in
widespread contamination in areas of Belarus, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine
inhabited by millions of residents. Apart from the increase in thyroid cancer after
childhood exposure, no increase in overall cancer or noncancer diseases have been
observed that can be attributed to the Chernobyl accident and exposure to radia-
tion. However, it is estimated that approximately 4000 radiation-related cancer
deaths may eventually be attributed to the Chernobyl accident over the lifetime of
the 200,000 emergency workers, 116,000 evacuees, and 270,000 residents living in
the most contaminated areas.
28
Consequences of Nuclear Power Plant Emergencies
Accidents at nuclear power plants can potentially have long-lasting effects on human
and animal health, as well as on the environment. Depending on the amount of
