4 ms·

Somewhat crazy, but: One more level of abstraction, and lots of people die at nuclear plants because they're not built yet (or existing ones were delayed, or in

by rdl 11y ago

Somewhat crazy, but: One more level of abstraction, and lots of people die at nuclear plants because they're not built yet (or existing ones were delayed, or in maintenance), due to the coal power which they would displace.

rimantas 11y ago
And coal power plants spread more radioactive material than nuclear ones.
- spacecowboy_lon 11y ago
  And that's not counting the coal miners that die in accidents or get silicosis aka black lung
  - pgeorgi 11y ago
    Family of mine worked in uranium mines. Lots of people died there as a result of radioactive particles that ended up in their lungs (plus the typical mining accidents).
InclinedPlane 11y ago
Even weirder, the rates of cancer are higher around nuclear power plant locations. Even when the plants haven't been built yet. Turns out, such things tens to get built in old industrial areas that are already heavily contaminated.
- iwwr 11y ago
  If anything causes people to get medical check-ups more often it's still beneficial, even if the reason for doing it may be irrational (fear of radiation leaked from a nuclear reactor). Such fears may even trigger a statistical increase in cancer rates from increased detection.
- HCIdivision17 11y ago
  This is going to be my go-to factoid on nuclear plant nimby-ism. My uncle had an interesting experience in this vein. It was well understood that high voltage power lines caused all manner of health issues, from cancer to various degenerative diseases. He understood that EM radiation from the lines really shouldn't be very dangerous, though, and didn't think much of the leg of a line tower in his back yard. Then one day the power company came through to clear out the underbrush growing around the base of the line's tower. In just two days after the spraying all vegitation was thoroughly dead. Turns out they spray an Agent Orange-like chemical to keep the towers maintained from plant overgrowth. You can bet he moved shortly after noticing that. (This was some years ago, and likely has been (hopefully) rectified.)

by rdl 11y ago

rimantas 11y ago

And coal power plants spread more radioactive material than nuclear ones.

spacecowboy_lon 11y ago
And that's not counting the coal miners that die in accidents or get silicosis aka black lung
- pgeorgi 11y ago
  Family of mine worked in uranium mines. Lots of people died there as a result of radioactive particles that ended up in their lungs (plus the typical mining accidents).

InclinedPlane 11y ago

Even weirder, the rates of cancer are higher around nuclear power plant locations. Even when the plants haven't been built yet. Turns out, such things tens to get built in old industrial areas that are already heavily contaminated.

iwwr 11y ago
If anything causes people to get medical check-ups more often it's still beneficial, even if the reason for doing it may be irrational (fear of radiation leaked from a nuclear reactor). Such fears may even trigger a statistical increase in cancer rates from increased detection.
HCIdivision17 11y ago
This is going to be my go-to factoid on nuclear plant nimby-ism. My uncle had an interesting experience in this vein. It was well understood that high voltage power lines caused all manner of health issues, from cancer to various degenerative diseases. He understood that EM radiation from the lines really shouldn't be very dangerous, though, and didn't think much of the leg of a line tower in his back yard. Then one day the power company came through to clear out the underbrush growing around the base of the line's tower. In just two days after the spraying all vegitation was thoroughly dead. Turns out they spray an Agent Orange-like chemical to keep the towers maintained from plant overgrowth. You can bet he moved shortly after noticing that. (This was some years ago, and likely has been (hopefully) rectified.)