What might be the consequences of a major nuclear accident?
If we use the AEC’s own Brookhaven Report, we must figure the following possibilities: Fifteen states the size of Maryland might be contaminated; agriculture restricted or forbidden; water supplies contaminated; other power plants contaminated. Half a million people might need evacuation, fast. These radiation refugees would have no place to go, and probably no one who would want them. Perhaps another 3½ million people might have to have their outdoor activity restricted to keep them from receiving high radiation doses. There might be general panic, and people might demand that all the nuclear plants in the country be shut down — which would extend the economic chaos even further. In addition, there might be 3,000 or 4,000 people dying from acute radiation overexposure. Plus another 50,000 people dying later from radiation-induced cancer, which is a horrible way to die. • Are the damage and casualty figures upper-limits on the very worst accident which could happen? No, the figures ci
