Sabotage, nuclear reactor

Fortunately, for a couple of reasons, the likelihood of a terrorist attack on a nuclear reactor is quite low. Nuclear reactors operate under tight security and incorporate safety systems. In addition, the extensive shielding around reactors would require large amounts of explosives to create a breach. Even if terrorists could transport large amounts of explosives, they would have to breach a security cordon to reach the reactor. Alternatively, they could commandeer a jumbo jet plane to crash into a reactor or a nuclear pond of used cores, but they would have to breach security measures to do so. Computer modeling indicates that the constraction of most reactors would sustain a 300 mph impact from a commercial aircraft, but not aU scientists agree with these findings (1). 

Even if terrorists succeeded in detonating an explosive at a reactor site, the health consequences would be limited. The reactor accident at the Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania nuclear power plant caused a small release of radiation, insufficient to cause any radiation injuries. Bypassing several safety systems caused the Chernobyl reactor incident, involving two explosions, fires and reactor core meltdown. This accident caused the following early phase health effects (1)  

One hundred and thirty-four cases of acute radiation syndrome (ARS) 

Twenty-eight deaths within the first 3 months 

The two isotopes primarily responsible for the health effects were Cs and (radioactive iodine). Given the extent of the accident, the effective response led to relatively few deaths (1). However, the significant widespread environmental contamination necessitated a permanent evacuation of 25,000 people. 

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Nuclear reactors are useful in the production of electricity, but they are not without their problems. These problems include disposal of nuclear wastes, accidents, and sabotage. The eventual answer may lie in nuclear fusion. 

Safety first has always been and continues to be the basic policy of the nuclear industry. This includes reactor safety by design as well as activities to discourage the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to prevent sabotage of nuclear facilities. This policy has been successful the chance of death from a nuclear accident is over a million times less than death... 

Fusion power generators are inherently safe. The magnetic confinement of the plasma must be carefully controlled and balanced to sustain the nuclear reaction. Any disturbance of the operating conditions will result in termination of the reaction. No combination of system failure, operator error, natural disaster or sabotage can cause the fusion reaction to run away. A nuclear explosion, melt down or similar catastrophic accident is not possible. A violent event, one of sufficient magnitude to disrupt the total reactor, could cause a chemical or electrical fire similar to any industrial fire. 

Safeguards and Security. In general, the reactor design should make adequate provisions to prevent unauthorized entry to the site or buildings on the site in order to prevent theft or unauthorized removal of nuclear materials and sabotage to the reactor. 

The safety design concept of a power unit with the VBER-150 was selected via the application of a system approach integrating the experience and recent achievements in safety of nuclear power plants and shipboard reactors it meets the requirements for plant location near populated areas and incorporates an enhanced resistance to possible acts of sabotage. 

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