Societal Aspects of Nuclear Technology

1. Societal Aspects of Nuclear Technology Kathryn Higley Dept. Of Nuclear Engineering higley@ne.orst.edu

3. Syllabus � Class Format Multiple lecturer format Weekly class structure Technical background presented on weekly topic Relevant issue (or issues) will be identified Discussion, debate, and /or role-playing will occur. Class will analyze pro and con sides of issue Class will reconvene and actively discuss/debate the issue. A brief quiz given at end of class.

4. Syllabus � Course Objective Provide an introduction and understanding of nuclear issues frequently encountered in our daily lives Assumes no particular background in science or in nuclear topics Not intended to be either pro- or anti-nuclear Provide students with understanding of selected nuclear technologies and controversies surrounding them

5. Syllabus � Course Objective Primary Textbooks: "Nuclear Choices" by Richard Wolfson �America the Powerless� by Alan Walters Additional supplementary material, as required, will be provided � Grading: Quizzes: 40%, Paper: 30%, Final exam: 30%.

6. Lecture Schedule

7. Lecture Schedule

8. Nuclear News Nuclear Choices

9. Nuclear Technology � What Is It? Images of our world Weapons Reactors Nuclear waste Hiroshima Anti Nuclear Protests Media bring nuclear technology to our attention How to sort out the issues from the noise?

10. Nuclear Weapons

11. Common Perceptions of Nuclear Technology Understand our own biases

12. Nuclear Power

16. Nuclear Weapons Can any sane person make a case for their continued existence?

17. Nuclear Stuff in the Movies

20. Other Radiation Tidbits - As Seen in the Media

23. Media Stories Do I have to worry about radiation on airplanes? Is flying like working in a nuclear power plant? Does that mean nuclear plants are safe or flying is hazardous?

24. Other Nuclear News

27. Radon

30. Radon What is it Should I get my house tested? Is it related to nuclear power? Why didn�t someone tell me about it earlier?

31. Print Media

32. Nuclear Topics What to think

33. Objective of Class Recognize that preconceived notions can hinder clear thinking and fruitful discussions Understand the basis of the technology Then decide

34. Radiation Fictions Fear: �It�s gonna blow!!!� Controversy: �We�re all gonna die!� Misunderstanding: �It�s not natural!� Mistrust �They�re all liars. We know mutant bugs will take over the earth and enslave us.�

35. Radiation Facts It�s been around forever We first noticed it ~ 1895 A lot was learned since then: doctors & radiation could cure cancer quacks & radiation could kill people the Military & radiation could kill a LOT of people Basic limits set in the 1950s still hold

36. Sources of Environmental Radiation Radiation & radionuclides older than the Earth Natural part of our environment Radiation field varies by geology, elevation, season, living conditions

37. Sources of �Artificial� Radiation Medical Occupational Nuclear Fuel Cycle Fallout Petroleum Industries Power generation Other

38. Quanties & Units Amount (activity): Becquerel (Bq) dis/s Curie (Ci) 3.7 x 1010 dis/s Dose: gray (Gy) 1 J/kg rad, 0.01 Gy Dose equivalent sievert (Sv) rem, 0.01 Sv Exposure (roentgen, R)

39. Range of Doses General public - 360 mrem/y natural Radon: 200 mrem Other natural: 97 mrem Remainder ~ 15 % medical, 3% products, 1% other Medical procedures (per procedure) CT head and body: 110 mrem Chest X-ray: 8 mrem Abdominal X-ray: 56 mrem

40. Percentage Contribution to Dose Contribution of various radiation sources to total average dose equivalent to persons in the United States (NCRP, 1987).

41. Basic Facts Two main types: electromagnetic (X-rays and gamma rays) particulate (electrons, protons, alpha particles..) Produced in the nucleus or through atomic orbital transitions Capable of ionizing (removing electrons) from atoms

42. Electromagnetic Radiation

43. Radiation Particles - ? ?

44. Types and properties of ionizing radiation

45. Radiation Effects in Living Tissues

46. Routes of Radiation Exposure

47. Range of Radiation Effects Hormesis (a little is good for you) Nothing Impaired organ function Cancer Genetic (mutation in offspring) Teratogen (impairment in offspring) Death

48. Factors Determining Impact Radiation type ( ?, ?, ?, n ) Duration of delivery (s ? y) Location (external or internal) Distribution in / around body Magnitude of dose Sensitive individual

49. Predicting Radiation Effects Why the �uncertainty�? Not all effects are apparent Knowledge limitations (likely impact) Natural variations (radiation field changes) Measurement ability (you can only go so low) Dose is predicted Risk (death, cancer) projected Where do we get �risk� numbers?

50. Radiation Effects Model

51. Radiation Effects Data Base Mainly for people or lab rats Good data in high dose/high dose-rate region Limited/contradictory data in low dose/low-dose rate region Some data suggest threshold (~10 rem)

52. What about other biota? Insects are tough to kill Big trees are as sensitive as we are So are most mammals Fish and plants are about 10x more resistant But�.. radionuclides are �more concentrated� lower in food chain lower form biota �naturally� get higher dose

53. Radiosensitivity of Species

54. So Radiation in high doses can kill you Radiation in moderate doses increases your cancer risk Radiation at doses near or below background may (pick one): do nothing help you hinder you

55. If you want more information: Kathryn Higley Department of Nuclear Engineering 7-0675 higley@ne.orst.edu

56. Topic For Discussion How clean is clean enough? Or, A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing

59. Hanford Cleanup See handout for additional information Answer this question: How clean should we make Hanford? Pristine Localized hot spots Leave it alone From whose perspective should we argue?