The U.S. remains dangerously unprepared to handle a mass casualty involving a nuclear reactor, tantamount to the Fukushima disaster in Japan nearly one year ago, according to a report released Tuesday by Physicians for Social Responsibility.
The report, “Nuclear Power and Public Health: Lessons from Fukushima, Still Dangerously Unprepared,” outlines the likelihood — and severity – of a potential emergency response problem the U.S. would experience if a large-scale disaster were to hit home. Seen as a troubling warning to federal officials, the report underscores that not enough is being done to protect nuclear plants and prevent harm to human health.
“While there is an urgent need to improve our preparedness for a major nuclear accident, we also need to understand that there is no planning possible for some of the worst consequences of a nuclear disaster,” said Ira Helfand, past president of Physicians for Social Responsibility, on a call with reporters.
Go here to read the full report or listen to the audio replay of the telebriefing.
2 comments
TLemon says:
Mar 8, 2012
This doesn’t surprise me at all. So, what’s going to be done about it?
Reactor Reax: Nuclear Energy Reporting This Week » NFC says:
Mar 10, 2012
[...] Public health still vulnerable to nuclear reactor crisis one year after Fukushima, Public Health Newswire, March 6, 2012. “The U.S. remains dangerously unprepared to handle a mass casualty involving a nuclear reactor, tantamount to the Fukushima disaster in Japan nearly one year ago, according to a report released Tuesday by Physicians for Social Responsibility. The report, “Nuclear Power and Public Health: Lessons from Fukushima, Still Dangerously Unprepared,” outlines the likelihood — and severity – of a potential emergency response problem the U.S. would experience if a large-scale disaster were to hit home. Seen as a troubling warning to federal officials, the report underscores that not enough is being done to protect nuclear plants and prevent harm to human health.” [...]