Nuclear energy - safety and radiation protection. Safety aspects, environment, accidents

This article gives an overview of the most important new knowledge and research results in the development and safety of nuclear energy. These is illustrated on the one hand by investigations after the accident at Chernobyl nuclear power plant as the largest possible accident at such a plant, and on the other by the progress made in safety research in the area of nuclear installations. The most relevant effects on health - such as an increase of thyroid cancer in infants, and the absence of an increase in the incidence of leukemia and other tumor types - are also discussed. Investigations at Seibersdorf carried out in the context of international research programs demonstrate that the amount of radioactivity released in light water reactor facilities is typically around 10-4 as compared to the maximum release in the Chernobyl accident. (author)