The Reporter's Handbook on Nuclear Materials, Energy & Waste Management

by Michael R. Greenberg, Bernadette M. West, Karen W. Lowrie, Henry J. Mayer

Overview

An essential reference for journalists, activists, and students, this book presents scientifically accurate and accessible overviews of 24 of the most important issues in the nuclear realm, including: health effects, nuclear safety and engineering, TMI and Chernobyl, nuclear medicine, food irradiation, transport of nuclear materials, spent fuel, nuclear weapons, global warming.

Each "brief" is based on interviews with named scientists, engineers, or administrators in a nuclear specialty, and each has been reviewed by a team of independent experts. The objective is not to make a case for or against nuclear-related technologies, but rather to provide definitive background information. (The approach is based on that of The Reporter's Environmental Handbook, published in 1988, which won a special award for journalism from the Sigma Delta Chi Society of professional journalists.)

Other features of the book include: a glossary of hundreds of terms, an introduction to risk assessment, environmental and economic impacts, and public perceptions, an article by an experienced reporter with recommendations about how to cover nuclear issues, quick guides to the history of nuclear power in the United States, important federal legislation and regulations, nuclear position statements, and key organizations, print and electronic resources.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826516596
Publisher:	Vanderbilt University Press
Publication date:	04/24/2009
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.30(h) x 3.10(d)

About the Author

Three of the authors (Greenberg, Lowrie, and Mayer) have for more than a decade done nuclear waste research and review work as part of their association with the Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation. The authors are also associated with the National Center for Neighborhood and Brownfield Redevelopment at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers. Greenberg also serves as associate editor for environmental health for the American Journal of Public Health and as editor-in-chief of Risk Analysis, where Lowrie serves as managing editor. West is Co-Chair of the Health Systems and Policy Department at UMDNJ School of Public Health.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

About CRESP xiii

Part I Getting Started

How to Use the Handbook 3

Why Now? Why This Discussion? 5

Crosscutting Themes 8

Covering Nukes: Play Hard, but Play Fair 23

Part II Briefs

Section 1 Radionuclides and Human Health Effects 35

Section 2 Nuclear Energy and Other Civilian Uses 53

Sustainability: Will There Be Enough Uranium and Nuclear Fuel and at What Cost? 53

Closing the Civilian Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Spent Nuclear Fuel: The Opportunity and the Challenge 64

Nuclear Power Plant Safety Systems 78

Three Mile Island and Chernobyl: What Happened and Lessons Learned 85

Decommissioning Nuclear Facilities 93

Transportation of Nuclear Waste 99

The Economics of Nuclear Power 110

Civilian Uses of Radiation and Radioactive Material (Other than Commercial Nuclear Power) 120

Section 3 Nuclear Waste Management 129

Nuclear Waste Policy in the United States: Classification, Management, and Disposition 129

Monitoring and Surveillance of Nuclear Waste Sites 145

Impact of Radionuclides and Nuclear Waste on Nonhumans and Ecosystems 152

Long-Term Surveillance and Maintenance at Closed Nuclear Waste Sites 158

Section 4 Nuclear Weapons, Terrorism, and Nonproliferation 164

Managing the Nuclear Weapons Legacy 164

Dirty Bombs (Radiological Dispersal Devices) 172

Nuclear Nonproliferation 179

Protecting Nuclear Power Plants against Terrorism 187

International Agencies and Policy 195

Section 5 Risk Perception and Risk Communication 201

Global Warming and Fuel Sources 201

Public Perceptions of Risk and Nuclear Power, Nuclear Weapons, and Nuclear Waste 210

Risk Communication about Nuclear Materials 218

Part IIIAdditional Resources

History of Nuclear Power in the United States and Worldwide 227

Important Federal Legislation and Regulations 233

American Nuclear Society Position Statements 245

Background on Key Organizations Related to U.S. Nuclear Programs 247

Key Sources 249

Glossary 251

Contributors 287

Index 293

Editorial Reviews

Researchers, journalists, and many students will appreciate the accessibility and interesting information available in this outstanding resource. Highly recommended.
—Choice

The book is packed with information directed at reporters, but it is good for any health physicist who communicates with the public on radiation issues.
—Health Physics

From the Publisher