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Environmental
Health Resources
Nuclear Radiation & Human
Health
 This
page contains electronic materials published by various institutions,
which can be used as teaching resources. Some of the resources are
general and some others specific to subjects presented in each PULSE
unit. |
 For
Teachers & Students
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Pressurized
Water Reactors are known as “PWRs.” They keep water under pressure
so that it heats but does not boil. Water from the
reactor and the water that is turned into steam are
in separate pipes and never mix.
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Students'
Resources |
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From the end of World
War II in 1945 to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Cold
War dominated international affairs. Although sometimes
fought on the battlefield, it involved everything from political
rhetoric to sports. Overshadowing all was the threat of nuclear war.
The U.S. adopted a policy of deterrence by threateneing any would-be
attacker with nuclear annihilation. To make the threat credible, our
country developed what is called the " Strategic Triad" of
nuclear forces—long-range bombers, land-based missiles, and submarines,
capable of catastrophic damage and devastating
casualties on an enemy. |
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The
Three
Mile Island Nuclear Accident was the worst accident in U.S.
commercial nuclear power generating history according to U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The NRC produced a Fact
Sheet  detailing
the event from start to finish. Three
Mile Island Alert is a non-profit
citizens' organization dedicated to the promotion of safe-energy
alternatives to nuclear power and is especially critical of the
Three Mile Island nuclear plant.
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Environmental
Health Perspectives (EHP) has artciles on
adverse effects of nuclear radiation on human health:
Power Surge: Renewed Interest in Nuclear Energy HTML | PDF
Radionuclides in the Great Lakes Basin HTML
Solid-Tumor Mortality in the Vicinity of Uranium Cycle
Facilities and Nuclear Power Plants in Spain HTML |
PDF
Long-Term Follow-Up
of the Residents of the Three Mile Island Accident Area: 1979-1998 HTML | PDF
Mortality among the
Residents of the Three Mile Island Accident Area: 1979-1992 HTML | PDF |
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The American Nuclear Society is
an international, not-for-profit scientific and educational organization
consisting of approximately
11,000 engineers, scientists, educators, students, and others with nuclear-related
interests. Phone 708-352-6611
| Fax 708-352-0499 |
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On
April 25th -26th, 1986 the world's worst nuclear power accident occurred
at Chernobyl in the former USSR (now
Ukraine). The Chernobyl
nuclear power plant located 80 miles north of
Kiev had 4
reactors and whilst testing reactor number 4 numerous safety
procedures were disregarded. At 1:23am the chain reaction
in the reactor became
out of control creating explosions and a fireball which blew
off the reactor's heavy steel and concrete lid. The website
contains a Chernobyl quiz, health & psychological effects,
political,
economic, environmental and social consequences, and more.
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The Health Effects Of Nuclear Exposure
The
thought of nuclear warfare is frightening for all of us,
and even
more frightening
is the thought of how exposure to nuclear detonation can affect our
health – assuming, of course, that it doesn’t
kill us outright.
There are many short term and long term effects that come with exposure to nuclear
warfare. The effects can be spread far and wide, and can continue
to affect us and our families for generations. The obvious risk from
exposure
to
nuclear warfare is immediate death. This can occur due to the blast
from the explosion, from flying debris, from burning, and from vaporisation
due to gamma rays.
If you do survive the blast then there are a number of ways in which you could
be affected through internal and external exposure. Read More |
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If
you experience problems viewing this webpage, please send email to Stephanie
Nardei Outreach Information Specialist, Center of Toxicology,
Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center. |
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