A nuclear reactor meltdown refers to
a severe accident that is related to nuclear reactors,
and
which results in a lot of damages from overheating. Maina defines it as an
accidental melting
of
a nuclear reactors’ core, and it can be either a complete or a partial
collapse. Nuclear energy is
a
chief source of electricity. According to the International Nuclear Energy
Agency, nuclear
energy
produces approximately 20% of the world electricity generation. The U.S.
produces most
of
the nuclear energy globally. Nuclear reactor meltdowns can bring about
devastating effects,
but
with appropriate measures, they can be averted.
Nuclear power plants present a potential health risks to a big
proportion of the
population.
For instance, following the Fukushima Daiichi meltdown, many people absorbed
supplies
of potassium iodide, which pose a great risk of cancer. The most severe nuclear
accident
to
occur in history was at Chernobyl, Ukraine in the year 1986 the Chernobyl
meltdown led to 30
plant
workers’ death, most of which resulted from radiation poisoning. There are at
least 6,000
cases
of people reported to have thyroid cancer as a result of the exposure to
Chernobyl’s
radiation.
The discharge of radioactive particles to the environment causes concerns
because of
potential
acute as well as log-term health consequences. Any uncontrolled as well as
substantial
release
of radiation ought to be the origin of immediate reaction as well as scientific
On March
11,
2011, the earthquake as well as tsunami in Japan led to release of radioactive
materials.
Nuclear reactors are basically high-tech kettles that
effectively boil water which is then
utilized
in the generation of electricity. They depend on harnessing nuclear fission,
and that is,
the
splitting of atoms into two other smaller atoms that as well generates heat and
makes the
NUCLEAR REACTOR MELTDOWNS 3
neutrons to scatter. In the case another atom absorbs a single
of the neutrons, and the atom turns
out
to be unstable and goes through fission itself, discharging more heat, as well
as neutrons. The
self-sustainability
of the chain reaction generates continuous heat supply that boils water which
then
propels the steam turbines, thereby generating electricity.
The imminent risk from a nuclear power plant accident is the
exposure to radioactive
radiation.
This exposure may emanate from the discharge of radioactive elements from the
nuclear
power plant to the environment that is characterized by a cloud-like formation
of
radioactive
particles. The main risks to people within the vicinity of the cloud-like
formation of
radioactive
particles are the exposure of their bodies to radiation from the radioactive
particles
that
have been deposited on the ground, along with the inhalation or ingestion of
radioactive
elements.
Many nuclear reactors utilize uranium fuel which has been supplemented in
uranium
235,
a uranium isotope that readily fissions, so as to sustain an incessant fission
reaction, as well
as
electricity generation. The supplemented uranium is made into fuel rods which
are enclosed in
metal
cladding materials that are made with alloys like zirconium. The Chernobyl
incident that
occurred
in 1986 is the most devastating nuclear reactor meltdown in history. On the INES
scale,
this
accident was rated as a 7, implying that it was a major disaster.
Minimization of Exposure to Radiation- The exposure of people to
radioactive materials
from
a possible nuclear reactor meltdown may be minimized by putting a number of
measures to
address
the situation. They include the following:
Distance- the distance that is separating a nuclear reactor
plant from the residential areas
should
be maintained to make sure that people will be safe in case of a nuclear
reactor meltdown.
NUCLEAR REACTOR MELTDOWNS 4
Shielding- the material that are used in manufacturing nuclear
reactors ought to be dense.
The
heavier the material used is, the better it is at minimizing the exposure to
radiation particles.
Preparedness- in case of a release in nuclear radiation in an
area, the local authorities as
well
as response units must activate warning sirens or other approved approaches in
instructing
people
on the way in which they should protect themselves.
At the point when such an occasion happens, the World Health
Organization's command,
as
portrayed in the Joint Radiation Emergency Management Plan of the International
Organizations,
is to survey and react to general wellbeing dangers. The basic role of this
wellbeing
danger appraisal of the Fukushima Daiichi atomic mischance is to gauge its
potential
general
wellbeing effect with the goal that future wellbeing needs can be expected, and
general
wellbeing
moves can be made. This evaluation is focused around a preparatory assessment of
radiation
measurements, as portrayed in a WHO report distributed in May 2012.
Taking everything into account, this wellbeing danger appraisal
is focused around the
current
condition of exploratory information. The evaluation models utilized were
gotten from
past
radiation occasions and experience, which don't precisely match the example of
the
introduction
seen in Fukushima; in this manner, alterations were needed. The dosage
appraisals
and
presumptions utilized as a part of this evaluation were deliberately decided to
minimize the
likelihood
of belittling consequent wellbeing dangers. The qualities introduced in the
report
ought
to be viewed as inductions of the extent of the wellbeing dangers, instead of
as exact
forecasts.
Additionally, it is likewise vital to note that the presentation information
whereupon
this
report is based are preparatory and incorporate just information that were
accessible as of
NUCLEAR REACTOR MELTDOWNS 5
September 2011. Since exploratory understanding of radiation
impacts, especially at low
measurements,
may increment later on, it is conceivable that a further examination may change
our
understanding of the dangers of this radiation mishap.
Worldwide general wellbeing security is one of the key needs of
WHO's motivation. The
World
Health Assembly asked for the Director-General in 2005 to upgrade WHO's ability
to
actualize
wellbeing related crisis readiness plans and to get ready for disasters and
emergencies
through
opportune and solid appraisals. The way of WHO's work on crises – whether coming
about
because of characteristic, purposeful or incidental occasions – re-quires an
abnormal state
of
coordination with a mixed bag of accomplices inside the United Nations
framework, and also
with
outer accomplices. One of the lessons from the 1986 Chernobyl atomic mishap was
the
need
to reinforce worldwide collaboration in radiation crises. The Joint Radiation
Emergency
Management
Plan of the International Organizations, last distributed in 2010, creates the
instruments
for actualizing a composed reaction and depicts the parts of each one gathering.
Inside
this joint arrangement, WHO is in charge of the coordination of general
wellbeing danger
evaluation
and react.
If a nuclear reactor meltdown occurs, bringing down an electric
power grid, those people
who
are close to the nuclear power plant are at a high risk of being affected. It
is imperative for
one
to know the safest distance for setting up residential areas as well as
business from a nuclear
power
plant, given that a nuclear reactor meltdown may lead to severe consequences in
case of
an
accident. Nuclear power plants ought to be set up near large water bodies for
the purpose.
Nuclear
power plants require electricity to maintain the working of their colossal
water cooling
pumps.
I the absence of these cooling pumps, there is an assurance of nuclear meltdown.
NUCLEAR REACTOR MELTDOWNS 6
Nuclear power plants utilize the heat that is produced from
nuclear fission in a setting
that
is controlled to turn water into steam, which then powers generators so as to
generate
electricity.
In the U.S., approximately 3 million people reside within 10 miles of an
operational
nuclear
power plant. Even though the Nuclear Regulatory Commission closely monitors as
well
as
regulate nuclear power plants, there is some possibility of accidents. A
nuclear power plant
accident
may result in dangerous radiation levels that may affect the safety as well as
health of
the
public who reside near them.
Different agencies, as well as organizations such as federal
agencies as well as electric
utilities,
have plans for emergency response in case of a nuclear power plant accident.
The plans
entail
two zones of emergency; a zone covering a region that is within a radius of 10
miles from
the
plant, and a zone covering a 50 miles radius from the plant. In the former
zone, the
possibility
of people being harmed in case of an accident is high due to exposure to direct
radiation,
whereas in the latter zone, there can be contamination of water supplies,
livestock, as
well
as food crops.
Additional articles
Sexual relations between a patient and a medical practitioner serving the patient are not rampant, but this does not mean that they are not there in the country. It is for this reason that the case like this one of Medical Board of Australia v To...Legal-Foundations-in-Healthcare-Management …
Read ArticleThe Boko Haram Terrorism is a global issue that has been in existence for some centuries now. It can be traced to as far as the 1880s when the first acts of a group of terrorists from Russia were felt. The group of Russians who terrorized pe...The-Boko-Haram---Agenda,-Mission-and-Historical-Foundations …
Read ArticleDebussy’s Prelude No. 4 The establishment of music is associated with the historical background of those with both cultural and passionate icons in music industry. Of course, music is one of the industries that require commitments coupled wit...Debussy …
Read Article