Re: Deaths attributed to coal fueled power plants

[John Goldsmith <gjohn@bgumail.bgu.ac.il>]

Dear RAdsafers:
     Most of such estimates have come from promoters of nuclear 
power.  Such figures usually include estimates for deaths due to coal 
mining and chronic pulmonary disease due to coal mining, based on 
outdated technology.  The best balanced estimate I can put my hand on 
today is from the World Health Organization, REgionaal Office for Europe, 
European Series No. 51, Geneva, "Nuclear Power and Health", 1994.
Chapter 5 deals with "Alternative Sources of Electrical Energy."
TAble 26 (p.119) citing Fritschke A.F. givs Deaths per GW(e) per year for 
coal s the power source.  For workers it cites 0.1-5.0 for short term
and 0.1-1.0 for medium and long term ; for the public 0.1 to 1.0 for 
short term and 1-10 for long-term exposure. Fritzsche, A. F. has an 
article "The health risks for energy product" in the journal Risk 
Analysis vol 9, pps 565-577, 1989.  Hope this helps.
   gjohn@bgumail.bgu.ac.il  John Goldsmith, Ben Gurion University 

On Fri, 10 May 1996, TOSH USHINO wrote:

>      RADSAFE'rs
>      
>      I have often come across a figure of up to 20,000(?) annual deaths 
>      attributable to coal fueled power plants. Can anyone tell me where 
>      this figure came from?
>      
>      Thank you in advance.
>      Tosh Ushino
>      San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
>      ushinot@songs.sce.com
>