Re: Coal vs. Nuclear

[rkathren@beta.tricity.wsu.edu (ronald kathren)]

One point that frequently getys obscured in the coal-nuclear comparison
relates to the possibilities of accidental releases of high levels or
radioactivity vs. routine, normnal operation.  This is an important term in
the risk-benefit equation.


>At 03:33 AM 04/12/95 -0600, you wrote:
>>
>>On 12/1/95, Ron Kathren wrote in response to an inquiry on radioactive 
>>materials released by coal fired plants:
>>
>>
>> ...the real purpose of this is to hope that we will not try to 
>> justify nuclear power by noting that coal fired plants release more 
>> radioactivity.  Such an overly simplistic comparison does not do our 
>> profession justice.  Let us not lost sight of our mission:  
>> PROTECTION OF PEOPLE (maybe especially workers) AND THE ENVIRONMENT 
>> FROM THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF RADIATION, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME 
>> REALIZING THE BENEFITS FOR MANKIND. 
>> 
>
>Really a problem I see is that the public perceives the waste products of
>nuclear power as somehow being a NEW threat to our environment which is
>unique to the nuclear power industry.  It surprises many individuals to
>learn that the consumption of fossil fuels releases radionuclides to the
>environment, and has done so ever since time began.  I was only attempting
>to get some sort of ballpark comparison of the levels involved.  
>
>Alan Enns
>aenns@unixg.ubc.ca
>
>
>