Radiation doses to the public from the nuclear industry

Section 1: It is shown that the dangers arising from power production in the past were greater than those arising from any form of power production today. Section 2: The specific ways in which radiation injures both the present and future generations are described. Section 3: The routine risks arising from nuclear power production are compared with those arising from other modern sources; first the risks to those employed in power production and then the risks to the general public, including the risks arising from efforts to conserve energy. Section 4: The risks to the public arising from major accidents are explained. Section 5: The radiation risks incurred by the public in the course of medical diagnosis and treatment are described and discussed. Section 6: Conclusion. It is pointed out that the dangers of nuclear energy are considerably less than those of all other sources other than directly piped natural gas; and that the reduction of the specific risks due to ionizing radiation arising from medical uses and from domestic heat conservation could save about a hundred times as many lives as would the complete elimination of the radiation arising from the production of nuclear power.