Estimate of the Cancer Risk Due to Nuclear-Electric Power Generation

摘要

The report considers the risk of fatal cancer for the entire fuel cycle due to radiation exposure associated with the annual production of one gigawatt (1000 megawatts) of nuclear electric power. Three sources of radiation exposure are examined: (1) occupational exposure to radiation workers; (2) exposure of the general population from routine releases of radioactivity to the environment; and (3) exposure due to accidental releases of radioactivity. In the analysis, exposures to radiation due to uranium fuel cycle are projected for a period of 100 years following the production of electricity. The major potential impact on human health is from radionuclides intentionally released into the environment during the milling of ores and at fuel reprocessing. It is estimated that about one cancer death could be committed for each gigawatt-year of electrical energy produced.