Criteria for the control of radioactive effluents

The risks to the population from the U.S. nuclear energy industry are considered to be very small in comparison with other environmental risks. However, they are not zero and, on the assumption that radiation damage increases linearly with the accumulated dose, they can be expected on a statistical basis to result in a few deaths in the exposed population. Thus, the routine operation of these nuclear power plants may cause about 18 deaths/yr and the serious accidents, which may occur at a frequency of once every 50 yr, may add another 6 deaths/yr on the average. This is considered to be a small price to pay relative to the real but less-well-defined environmental risks from atmospheric pollution caused by fossil fuel power plants. Assuming the proper selection of a reactor site and all practicable precautions in the design and operation of a nuclear power reactor, adequate radiation protection for nearby populations can be assured by concentrating health physics attention on the critical radionuclides, critical pathways and critical segments of the population.