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Power production - what are the risks
Ann. nucl. Energy, Vol. 17, No. 11, pp. 635~536, 1990 Pergamon Press plc. Printed in Great Britain
BOOK REVIEW POWER PRODUCTION - WHAT ARE THE RISKS by J.H. FREMLIN
Published by Adam Hilger, £29.50 Hardback, £9.95 Paperback The public acceptability of nuclear power was severely compromised by the Three Mile Island incident and even more by the Chernobyl disaster. Consequently, in the U.K. in particular, even the most minor mishap in the nuclear industry becomes the subject of hysterical condemnation by the media. Professor John Fremlin's book is an authoritative attempt to bring some measure of sanity to the assessment of the human and environmental costs associated with power production by the combustion of fossil fuels, nuclear fission and the renewable energy sources, both in normal operation and under accident conditions. This second edition, some five years later than the f'n'st, contains new information, not only the obvious inclusion of the Chernobyl accident but also an appreciation of the heightened concern for the environmental effect of all energy sources which has been a feature of the intervening period. Early chapters deal adequately with risk assessment making the real and necessary distinction between actual risk and the public perception of risk. The causative link between radiation and cancer is explored in some detail, though the book pre-dates the recent allegations that some child leukemias may be genetically induced. This omission does not invalidate the overall conclusion that the additional cancer risk associated with nuclear power is small compared to that from many industrial processes and even from the gaseous effluent of conventional power stations. All are small compared to the incidence of naturally occurring cancers or those induced by cigarette smoking. His overall conclusion that "the risks to human health of large scale power production of any kind are small compared to other risks we run and are far smaller than the favourable effects on health which they make possible" may appear to be somewhat bland, but it is substantiated by very detailed and wide ranging arguments covering such diverse topics as nuclear waste management, acid rain, the dangers of terrorism, domestic heat conservation and radon levels, proliferation of nuclear weapons, the hazards of small scale combustion sources, premature deaths as a function of G.N.P. (and by implication per Capita power consumption), the mechanism of cancer initiation, climatic changes due to fossil fuel combustion, etc. The authors main worry remains the storage and transport of hazardous chemicals and hydrocarbon fuels. In discussing the potential hazards of the various energy sources the author displays considerable imagination as well as a very detailed technical knowledge. Indeed, on reading Chapter 13, it is impossible to escape the impression that this is the work of a terrorist manque. Appreciable reference is made to relevant published work, but the author is refreshingly willing to give a personal opinion rather than to hide behind the cautions and frequently ambiguous findings of an eminent committee. Occasionally, and particularly in the discussion of renewable energy sources, his judgement appears to be somewhat idiosyncratic "D.I.Y. enthusiasts who kill themselves by falling off roofs whilst repairing or cleaning solar panels do so voluntarily and need not therefore be counted", but this cavalier treatment is not widespread and his analysis of risk elsewhere is detailed and painstaking. 635
636
Book Review
The book is written in an attractively informal style and is in parts almost autobiographical, which is justified by the author's contribution to many of the topics covered over many years. It makes interesting and informative reading for the non specialist with some scientific background and an open and enquiring mind. In addition to the present publication there could well be a place for an abridged version summing up the main arguments and presenting the main conclusions in tabulated form if necessary. If this could be done in a hundred pages or so and aimed more specifically at the lay reader, it would bring greater good to even greater numbers. S.E. HUNT Emeritus Professor of Physics, University of Aston.
BOOK REVIEW POWER PRODUCTION - WHAT ARE THE RISKS by J.H. FREMLIN
Published by Adam Hilger, £29.50 Hardback, £9.95 Paperback The public acceptability of nuclear power was severely compromised by the Three Mile Island incident and even more by the Chernobyl disaster. Consequently, in the U.K. in particular, even the most minor mishap in the nuclear industry becomes the subject of hysterical condemnation by the media. Professor John Fremlin's book is an authoritative attempt to bring some measure of sanity to the assessment of the human and environmental costs associated with power production by the combustion of fossil fuels, nuclear fission and the renewable energy sources, both in normal operation and under accident conditions. This second edition, some five years later than the f'n'st, contains new information, not only the obvious inclusion of the Chernobyl accident but also an appreciation of the heightened concern for the environmental effect of all energy sources which has been a feature of the intervening period. Early chapters deal adequately with risk assessment making the real and necessary distinction between actual risk and the public perception of risk. The causative link between radiation and cancer is explored in some detail, though the book pre-dates the recent allegations that some child leukemias may be genetically induced. This omission does not invalidate the overall conclusion that the additional cancer risk associated with nuclear power is small compared to that from many industrial processes and even from the gaseous effluent of conventional power stations. All are small compared to the incidence of naturally occurring cancers or those induced by cigarette smoking. His overall conclusion that "the risks to human health of large scale power production of any kind are small compared to other risks we run and are far smaller than the favourable effects on health which they make possible" may appear to be somewhat bland, but it is substantiated by very detailed and wide ranging arguments covering such diverse topics as nuclear waste management, acid rain, the dangers of terrorism, domestic heat conservation and radon levels, proliferation of nuclear weapons, the hazards of small scale combustion sources, premature deaths as a function of G.N.P. (and by implication per Capita power consumption), the mechanism of cancer initiation, climatic changes due to fossil fuel combustion, etc. The authors main worry remains the storage and transport of hazardous chemicals and hydrocarbon fuels. In discussing the potential hazards of the various energy sources the author displays considerable imagination as well as a very detailed technical knowledge. Indeed, on reading Chapter 13, it is impossible to escape the impression that this is the work of a terrorist manque. Appreciable reference is made to relevant published work, but the author is refreshingly willing to give a personal opinion rather than to hide behind the cautions and frequently ambiguous findings of an eminent committee. Occasionally, and particularly in the discussion of renewable energy sources, his judgement appears to be somewhat idiosyncratic "D.I.Y. enthusiasts who kill themselves by falling off roofs whilst repairing or cleaning solar panels do so voluntarily and need not therefore be counted", but this cavalier treatment is not widespread and his analysis of risk elsewhere is detailed and painstaking. 635
636
Book Review
The book is written in an attractively informal style and is in parts almost autobiographical, which is justified by the author's contribution to many of the topics covered over many years. It makes interesting and informative reading for the non specialist with some scientific background and an open and enquiring mind. In addition to the present publication there could well be a place for an abridged version summing up the main arguments and presenting the main conclusions in tabulated form if necessary. If this could be done in a hundred pages or so and aimed more specifically at the lay reader, it would bring greater good to even greater numbers. S.E. HUNT Emeritus Professor of Physics, University of Aston.