Author Question: It was because the health effects of the Three Mile Island accident in 1979 were so severe that it ... (Read 13 times)

MGLQZ · **on:** Jul 28, 2018

It was because the health effects of the Three Mile Island accident in 1979 were so severe that it caused general public alarm.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

A Chernobyl-type accident would not be possible for a Western-style reactor.

What will be an ideal response?

lgoldst9 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 28, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Fear caused general public alarm. At the time, there were widespread fears of a
plague of cancers later. After 25 years, a retrospective epidemiological study found no
evidence for any health problems in the Harrisburg area that could have come about because
of the accident.

Answer to Question 2

This is the case. There are far fewer holes in the containment building, and
Western-style reactors have negative void coefficients under normal operation, while
RBMK reactors do not have this safety feature, and have positive void coefficients.