Nuclear power and biologic effects

Possible biological effects of nuclear power on the general population are genetic, carcinogenic, or a shortening of life span. Of these, carcinogenic effects merit the most attention, but actual radiation doses to the general public from Pickering nuclear power station are very small compared to background radiation. The remaining possibility is that there might be a reactor accident, but the record of the Canadian nuclear industry is very good, and sophisticated calculations suggest that serious accidents will occur less often than once in 1000 reactor years. Reactor accidents are certainly very improbable. Although some lung cancers are attributable to uranium mining, it is still safer than coal mining. Dose commitments from waste disposal will be negligible. (N.D.H.)