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Nuclear energy
Nucl. Tracks, Vol. 10, No. 3, p. 475, 1985 Printed in Great Britain
0191-278x/8553.00 + .00 Pergamon Press Ltd.
BOOK REVIEW NUCLEAR
ENERGY
By Simon Rippon, Published by William Heinemann Ltd, London 1984 (pp x + 214) £15.00 (hardback). As THE popularity of nuclear energy for electricity production declines, the number of books seeking to explain its advantages or perceived dangers burgeons. Simon Rippon has moved from nuclear reactor physics into technical journalism. He seeks to cover not only the technology but also the social impact and so to produce a better informed public who can influence future decisions on energy production. An admirable objective, supported by Sir John Hill in his forward. 'The Questions They Ask' is the title of the first chapter with a section on 'But what i f . . . ?' which recognizes that an accident could kill tens of thousands of people albeit with a less than 1 in a million chance: but what i f . . . ? 'What about waste?', 'What about proliferation?', and 'Is nuclear energy economical?,' had very different answers depending on whose expert you believe. The author's thesis is that a little understanding of the basics of a subject can help this choice. In subsequent chapters, nuclear reactors, nuclear fuel and nuclear safety are described in simple but precise
language. However, the use of Grays, Sieverts and milliSieverts instead of grays, sieverts and millisieverts annoyed me, but would not confuse the layman. A dose equivalent of 2 Sv of neutrons would not kill half those exposed but this may be acceptable licence for a simplification of radiation effects and radiological protection contained within a mere four pages. (The film badge appears as the only recognized type of dosemeter.) The remainder of the book describes the politics of nuclear energy, of nuclear waste and of the nuclear industries throughout the world. The knowledgeable in nuclear matters may well find the book superficial, but only rarely inaccurate. However, those seeking to educate a wider public in nuclear matters will find that the author provides many useful and succinct word pictures. J. A. B. GIBSON Environmental & Medical Sciences Division AERE, Harwell, U.K.
475
0191-278x/8553.00 + .00 Pergamon Press Ltd.
BOOK REVIEW NUCLEAR
ENERGY
By Simon Rippon, Published by William Heinemann Ltd, London 1984 (pp x + 214) £15.00 (hardback). As THE popularity of nuclear energy for electricity production declines, the number of books seeking to explain its advantages or perceived dangers burgeons. Simon Rippon has moved from nuclear reactor physics into technical journalism. He seeks to cover not only the technology but also the social impact and so to produce a better informed public who can influence future decisions on energy production. An admirable objective, supported by Sir John Hill in his forward. 'The Questions They Ask' is the title of the first chapter with a section on 'But what i f . . . ?' which recognizes that an accident could kill tens of thousands of people albeit with a less than 1 in a million chance: but what i f . . . ? 'What about waste?', 'What about proliferation?', and 'Is nuclear energy economical?,' had very different answers depending on whose expert you believe. The author's thesis is that a little understanding of the basics of a subject can help this choice. In subsequent chapters, nuclear reactors, nuclear fuel and nuclear safety are described in simple but precise
language. However, the use of Grays, Sieverts and milliSieverts instead of grays, sieverts and millisieverts annoyed me, but would not confuse the layman. A dose equivalent of 2 Sv of neutrons would not kill half those exposed but this may be acceptable licence for a simplification of radiation effects and radiological protection contained within a mere four pages. (The film badge appears as the only recognized type of dosemeter.) The remainder of the book describes the politics of nuclear energy, of nuclear waste and of the nuclear industries throughout the world. The knowledgeable in nuclear matters may well find the book superficial, but only rarely inaccurate. However, those seeking to educate a wider public in nuclear matters will find that the author provides many useful and succinct word pictures. J. A. B. GIBSON Environmental & Medical Sciences Division AERE, Harwell, U.K.
475