原子力発電の環境問題をめぐって

Abstract

Environmental problems associated with the operation of an atomic power plant are describcd. These problems include: the kind of radioactive nuclides and radiation dose; ecological movements of radioactive nuclides and the kind and the degree of radiation exposure (external exposure and internal exposure); biological effects of low-dose (minute amount) radiation; standards for radiation protection and estimation of the degree of radiation hazard; and environmental problems other than radiation. The path of radioaetive nuclides in the environment until they reach the human body through food chain and importance of their concentration in living things during that time are stated. Bodily effects, genetic effects, and the degree of genetic danger from internal exposure and compound pollution are discussed. Delayed bodily effects, such as: malignant neoplasms including leukemia, tumors of various organs in the body (thyroid gland tumor, etc.), opacitas corneae (cataract), genetic abnormality of fetus, and shortening of life are mentioned. Genetic effects were divided into chromosome abnormality and genic mutation from a viewpoint of genetic mechanism. Dominant mutation, recessive mutation, sex-linked mutation, and multigenetic mutation manifestations of mutation are considered. Dose standards, the maximum permissible dose, and limitation of dose recommended by ICRP, and legal regulation in Japan are mentioned. Standardsmore » on dose restrictions for reactor installations in Japan, U. S. A., Canada, West Germany, U. S. S. R. and England are compared with each other. The environmental effects of thermal effluents from nuclear power plants, specifically the effects of seawater heating on marine organisms are described. (JA)« less