Nuclear Power Accidents Overview

Curriculum Connections

• Curriculum Connection Codes: E1.1, E2.1

Overview of Major Nuclear Generating Station Accidents

• There have been three major accidents involving nuclear power generating stations in history:
  • The Three Mile Island accident ($1979$)
  • The Chernobyl accident ($1986$)
  • The Fukushima Daiichi accident ($2011$)

Three Mile Island Accident

• Year: $1979$
• Location: United States
• Health Impact and Mortality:
  • There was no loss of life.
  • There were no significant health effects recorded.
• Industry Consequences:
  • Caused a slowdown in the construction of new nuclear power plants.

Chernobyl Accident

• Year: $1986$
• Location: USSR
• Accident Details:
  • The accident involved two distinct explosions.
• Health Impact and Mortality:
  • $28$ people died from acute radiation poisoning.
  • $15$ people died years later as a direct result of thyroid cancer.
• Evacuation and Population Displacement:
  • $335,000$ people residing within a $30\,\text{km}$ radius of the accident site were forced to leave their homes.

Fukushima Daiichi Accident

• Year: $2011$
• Location: Japan
• Triggering Cause:
  • Caused directly by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
• Health Impact and Mortality:
  • No deaths were initially attributed directly to the nuclear power accident itself.
  • $18,500$ people died as a result of the primary natural disasters (the earthquake and tsunami).
  • $1$ cancer death of a nuclear power station employee has since been officially blamed on the nuclear accident.
• Evacuation and Population Displacement:
  • $154,000$ people were evacuated from within a $20\,\text{km}$ radius of the generating station.