1978/12/08 by J McBride, Robert E. Moore, J.P. Witherspoon +1 · 2 citations
Engineering · Environmental Science · Health Professions · #Nuclear and radioactivity studies #Radioactive contamination and transfer #Radioactivity and Radon Measurements
paper · doi:10.1126/science.202.4372.1045
openalex publication_date 1978/12/08 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
Radiation doses from airborne effluents of model coal-fired and nuclear power plants (1000 megawatts electric) are compared. Assuming a 1 percent ash release to the atmosphere (Environmental Protection Agency regulation) and 1 part per million of uranium and 2 parts per million of thorium in the coal (approximately the U.S. average), population doses from the coal plant are typically higher than those from pressurized-water or boiling-water reactors that meet government regulations. Higher radionuclide contents and ash releases are common and would result in increased doses from the coal plant. The study does not assess the impact of non-radiological pollutants or the total radiological impacts of a coal versus a nuclear economy.