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I was under the impression that modern reactors have much safer designs that would make a repeat of that much less likely, and then slightly different tech like
by fy20 5y ago
I was under the impression that modern reactors have much safer designs that would make a repeat of that much less likely, and then slightly different tech like molten salt reactors completely prevent meltdowns.
That still doesn't prevent leaks like Fukashima though, but that has had a very small impact so far, that I'd be tempted to even call negligible - especially if you compare it to the problems pollution causes from lignite plants.
- forgotmypw17 5y agoFukushima's impact is only beginning, as remediation is still ongoing, and the resources for remediation (room in the tanks for storing contaminated water) are running out this year. By the way, what's the point of comparing Fukushima to something else terrible? >A screening program a year later in 2012 found that more than a third (36%) of children in Fukushima Prefecture have abnormal growths in their thyroid glands. I think that's hardly comparable to coal.
- dzikimarian 5y agoIndeed hardly comparable. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/reliance-on-coal-linked-with-lung-cancer-incidence/ https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/reliance-... Coal is much bigger killer, just too slow to make for good news story.
- morelisp 5y ago> By the way, what's the point of comparing Fukushima to something else terrible? Because in Germany the concrete choice 10-15 years ago was between developing nuclear, or burning lignite now and importing gas from oligarchies later. These were the only two options on table which were politically and technically feasible. (And then Fukushima made nuclear no longer politically feasible. And now it's also too late to be technically feasible.)
- morelisp 5y ago> A screening program a year later in 2012 found that more than a third (36%) of children in Fukushima Prefecture have abnormal growths in their thyroid glands. As an aside, what is the base rate? In all the reporting on this number I've not been able to find it. (Only that the base rate among adults is around 50%, which may or may not be comparable.)
- max002 5y agoAbout molten salt. I love idea, but we will have soon just 1st one right? Or is it already operational? Btw. 660 bill on clean up thats nowhere to be done is big impact.