Radiological Impact of Airborne Effluents of Coal and Nuclear Plants

Radiation doses from airborne effluents of model coal-fired and nuclear power plants (1000 megawatts electric) are compared. Assuming a 1 percent ash release to the atmosphere (Environmental Protection Agency regulation) and 1 part per million of uranium and 2 parts per million of thorium in the coa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1978-12, Vol.202 (4372), p.1045-1050
Main Authors: McBride, J. P., Moore, R. E., Witherspoon, J. P., Blanco, R. E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Boiling water reactors
Coal
Dosage
Environmental aspects
Fly ash
Nuclear power plants
Plants
Pollution
Radiation dosage
Radiology
Radiotherapy
Thorium
Uranium
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Summary:Radiation doses from airborne effluents of model coal-fired and nuclear power plants (1000 megawatts electric) are compared. Assuming a 1 percent ash release to the atmosphere (Environmental Protection Agency regulation) and 1 part per million of uranium and 2 parts per million of thorium in the coal (approximately the U.S. average), population doses from the coal plant are typically higher than those from pressurized-water or boiling-water reactors that meet government regulations. Higher radionuclide contents and ash releases are common and would result in increased doses from the coal plant. The study does not assess the impact of nonradiological pollutants or the total radiological impacts of a coal versus a nuclear economy.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.202.4372.1045