There was recently a nuclear industry conference in London sponsored by the World Nuclear Association (WNA). In their own words, the WNA is made up of “members who are responsible for virtually all of world uranium mining, conversion, enrichment and fuel fabrication; all reactor vendors; major nuclear engineering, construction, and waste management companies; and nearly 90% of world nuclear generation.
Ambient office = .121 microsieverts per hour
Ambient outside = .112 microsieverts per hour
Soil exposed to rain water = .128 microsieverts per hour
Carrot from Costco = .126 microsieverts per hour
Tap water = .117 microsieverts per hour
Filtered water = .102 microsieverts per hour
I have been talking about China lately. Their National Development and Reform Commission wants to raise the percentage of power generated by nuclear plant from the two percent that it provides today up to six percent by 2020 due to concerns over fossil fuel supplies, devastating air pollution and climate change. Given that they are talking about more than a hundred new reactors, it does seem a rather modest penetration of nuclear power into the Chinese domestic market.
Ambient office = .121 microsieverts per hour
Ambient outside = .112 microsieverts per hour
Soil exposed to rain water = .128 microsieverts per hour
Sliced mushroom from Costco = .126 microsieverts per hour
Tap water = .117 microsieverts per hour
Filtered water = .102 microsieverts per hour
I have complained in prior blog posts about a lack of honesty on the part of national governments when it comes to accidents at nuclear reactors. At one time or another, all the countries which have nuclear power plants have had accidents and been accused of not informing the citizens who are at risk of exactly what has happened. The latest example which continues to this day is the aftermath of the disaster at Fukushima.
Ambient office = .121 microsieverts per hour
Ambient outside = .112 microsieverts per hour
Soil exposed to rain water = .128 microsieverts per hour
Celery from Costco = .126 microsieverts per hour
Tap water = .117 microsieverts per hour
Filtered water = .102 microsieverts per hour
I have heard some people say that China’s government does not have to deal with all the delays and inertia of our governmental system. They say that if the Chinese want to do something, they just do it. There may have been times in Chinese history when this was true and I did make reference to such things in a recent blog post. But, as recent events have illustrated, things are not quite that easy in China.
