Is it dangerous to live near a nuclear power plant?
Answers
Answer:
"YES"
Explanation:
Airborne and water- borne emissions of radioactive materials from the facilities' normal operations (called efflu- ents) can expose nearby populations to ionizing radiation. This radiation could elevate the risk of cancer in the exposed populations.
Currently, if a radiological emergency occurs, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission recommends that anyone living within 10 miles of a plant to tune in to their local radio or television Emergency Alert System and heed the instructions from state or local officials.
However, sensitivity analysis by exposure definition showed that living less than 20 km from nuclear power plants was associated with a significant increase in the risk of thyroid cancer in well-designed studies (summary OR=1.75; 95% CI 1.17-2.64).