Is nuclear energy toxic?

This is in response to an article entitled “Nuclear energy is toxic” appeared in one of the popular newspapers in India recently.

1. To begin with, the title itself is not correct. There is nothing toxic about any energy, by any definitions. As the old saying goes, half knowledge is more dangerous than lack of knowledge.
2. Operation of any electricity generating systems generates waste products or by-products of different kinds. Nothing special about nuclear energy. In the nuclear reactors, in addition to the fission product waste, small amount of plutonium is also generated by one of the nuclear reactions. This plutonium is toxic and is handled only in leak-tight containment systems. The material is very useful as a reactor fuel and also can be used in nuclear weapons.
3. Nuclear weapon technology is different than nuclear power technology. Nuclear reactors can not explode like a nuclear bomb.
4. By operating nuclear reactors, fission reaction takes place in the nuclear fuel. Generally nuclear fuel can be uranium, enriched uranium or plutonium or combination of uranium and plutonium. The fission reactions generate heat in the fuel and this heat is taken out using coolant system designed around the fuel to produce steam to run the turbines and produce electricity.
5. The so-called control rods are used to control the chain reaction by absorbing excess neutrons released in the fuel system.
6. Unlike other thermal power plants, nuclear reactors release very low levels of radioactivity and all the releases are accounted for and well controlled by regulatory authorities.
7. Regarding the carcinogenic part of plutonium, there are hundreds of carcinogenic chemicals in the environment, at levels much higher than the permissible limits. The most common carcinogenic materials to which we are exposed are: cigarette smoke, alcohol, silica dust and automobile exhausts. Plutonium release from nuclear facilities is virtually ruled out during normal operations.
8. One should also remember that cancer is an old age disease, and is seen after a long latent period of over 30 years. The background radiation for which we are all exposed also can also cancer. Threshold is not assumed for any carcinogens as a matter of abundant caution.
9. Unlike in fossil fuel based power plants, the nuclear waste generated in nuclear power plants is small in quantity, and hence easily manageable. Indian nuclear establishments are currently using the well-established waste management technology to vitrify the radioactive waste and store it safely in well-designed facilities for any number of years without contaminating the environment.
10. Nuclear technology is not only American patent. India, over the years has mastered all aspects of the nuclear technology and is one of the world leaders in this hi-tech industry.

For more info see: www.radsafetyinfo.com

International Atomic Energy Agency’s Nuclear Dilemma

The History of nuclear beginning – destructive horror of nuclear weapon demonstrated in 1945 over Japan) – is very painful and can not be forgotten. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was created, in the spirit of “Atoms for Peace” in the year 1957 under the shadow of cold war between the then USSR and USA. The IAEA is the intergovernmental organization within the United Nations system and it contributes to global peace, development, and security in essential ways – helping to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, and fostering safe, secure and peaceful uses of beneficial nuclear technologies for human development. Eighteen ratifications were required to bring the IAEA’s Statute into force. India was one of the countries which contributed for the cause. The total membership as of March 2007 stands at 144. The IAEA programs are managed by the 35-member Board of Governors and the General Conference of all the member countries. In short, the IAEA is the hub for all national, regional and international cooperation in the nuclear activities.

Its mission is to manage the nuclear dilemma. As regards to its nuclear-weapon related part of the mission, the IAEA, through negotiations could come out with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to benefit the countries with the access to peaceful nuclear technology with a condition that the benefited country will not develop nuclear weapons. Claiming the Treaty is discriminatory, three countries, viz., India, Pakistan and Israel have not signed the Treaty. North Korea signed earlier and the withdrawn from the Treaty in 2003.

Broadly, the IAEA covers the three main aspects of its mission: Atoms for Peace.

i) Safeguards and Verification: Forging safeguards agreements with the countries for inspection of peaceful nature of nuclear materials and activities,
ii) Safety and security: Establishment of safety related documents, and help the countries to apply the same, and
iii) Science and Technology: Provide technical and research support for nuclear applications in health, agriculture, energy, environment and other allied fields.
India has been a very responsible country which pursued peaceful applications in almost all the spheres, including nuclear power and healthcare. It also contributed significantly, nationally and internationally, for the IAEA’s mission – Atoms for Peace. At present, India is in dialogue with the IAEA with respect to the country-specific safeguards (since India is not a NPT signatory) as the prerequisite for operationalising the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Indo-US nuclear deal – Prospects

If the UPA Government at New Delhi wants to continue till its full term, it has to abandon the deal as insisted by the Left parties supporting the government. It is reported that considerable progress has been made on the India specific safeguards after the 5th meeting at Vienna. India is looking for an exemption so that the country can approach the NSG member countries for nuclear fuel and the technology. It is reported in the press that a former foreign secretary, Shyam Saran is appointed as PM’s special envoy to deal with the two sensitive issues, i.e., climate change and nuclear deal with the NSG member countries. It is highlighted that India and the other countries which are worried about the climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions, that nuclear power option is the environmentally clean option to prevent India from going for more and more fossil fuel based power plants. Of course, India needs power from all possible resources.

The options seem to be: either to negotiate the deal with the minority government if Left parties withdraw the support for the UPA government or wait and be ready to renegotiate with the Democrat administration after it takes over the White House.

According to the Chairman, AEC, India, the outcome of the IAEA talks should favor India with respect to its requirements, and it should be satisfactory to both the sides.

Nuclear Forensics

Frequent reports of illicit trafficking in nuclear and other radioactive material demonstrate the global dimensions of the problem and the importance of building up systems to detect and prevent such undesirable incidents. Nuclear forensics – described also as "fingerprinting" nuclear and radiological material” – was born in the shadow of the cold war to detect nuclear smuggling. Since then, nuclear forensics has been contributing increasingly in the global efforts to prevent the illegal smuggling and trafficking of radiological and nuclear materials, which have potential for application in nuclear terrorism.

The materials confiscated are generally intended: for industrial and medical use, for nuclear fuel cycle operations, in dangerous weapons-usable nuclear materials such as plutonium and highly enriched uranium and for use as an additive in conventional explosives (Radiological Dispersal Devices, RDDs or dirty bombs). A major focus of nuclear forensics is identifying specific signatures, which are the physical, chemical, and isotopic characteristics that distinguish one nuclear or radiological material from another. Members of public need to be made aware of such possibilities to avoid panic under such situations.

The technique draws upon sophisticated instruments and methods to analyze the nature, use, and origin of the materials. Well established techniques are now available for detection and measurement of radioactivity in low levels. Analytical methods employed include electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, mass spectrometry, gamma and alpha spectrometry and low-level radioactivity measurements systems.

The report of such an analysis of the seized materials is used as evidence by law enforcement agencies for prosecution of criminal cases. Nuclear forensics and attribution go beyond determining the physical, chemical, and isotopic characteristics of intercepted nuclear or radiological materials. The authorities need to know the points of origin of the materials, routes of transit and the final intended destination.

The common nuclear material intercepted is uranium concentrate (yellow cake). The yellow cake is the product from uranium mining/milling operations, and the uranium involved is generally of natural origin, which is considerably less hazardous (of low specific activity) than the uranium from the enrichment cycle. Alternatively, other materials involved in such illicit trafficking could well be commercial radioactive source materials such as cesium-137, strontium-90, cobalt-60, or americium-241. These isotopes are used in applications such as medical diagnostics, nondestructive analysis, food sterilization, and thermoelectric generators.

Expertize in the field of nuclear forensics is available in national atomic energy establishments and with international oragnizations such as International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna.