How might a nuclear power plant accident affect my farm?
It is not likely to happen, but a serious accident could release radiation into the air. The radiation would be in the form of particles and gases. The wind could carry some of the particles to your farm. How your farm is affected depends on several things. These include: • How much radiation is released. A small amount may have no harmful effect. A large amount can cause a problem. • The weather. A heavy rain could cause more particles to fall in a given area. Or, strong winds may spread the particles out, causing less to fall in a given area. • Distance from the plant. The farther your farm is from the plant, the less it will be affected. Heavy particles, those with the most radiation, settle to the ground quickly. They fall close to the plant. Lighter particles stay in the air longer and lose some of their radioactivity. They may travel as much as 50 miles from the plant. What could happen if the particles reach my farm? They may or may not be harmful. In an emergency, state and loc
