SONE Newsletter 275 - April 2022

Posted by Wade Allison on 1 April 2022 in Newsletters

Tagged with: Atoms for Peace, LNT, Mums for Nuclear, Radiophobia, Stephen Vaughan, Tony Brooks, YouTube.

World Nuclear News

In these rapidly changing times, mainstream nuclear developments can be followed daily with World Nuclear News: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/

In the SONE monthly Newsletter we aim to add comment on broader issues that move more slowly and ones that the industry is less likely to discuss.

Mums for Nuclear

Enthusiasm for nuclear energy is thankfully not confined to those old enough to remember its first aspiration “Atoms For Peace” that began in the 1950s. Today, SONE is linked to groups of younger people, including “Mums for Nuclearmumsfornuclear.co.uk. Like its sister organisation in USA it brings together mothers and children who paint placards, march, and demonstrate in support of nuclear energy. There are similar national groups in continental Europe too.

No more Radiophobia

Here is a very professionally made 20 minute video, “No More Radiophobia” by Theo Richel. He writes “many people are afraid of radiation, but scientists make clear that radiation is not so dangerous. Therefore they argue for a relaxing of the safety limits.” It is very well worth watching.

Fallout Man

And here is another by an exceptional authority. Tony Brooks headed the US program to evaluate low dose radiation health effects. It revealed harmless, protective effects, just as the incoming Obama administration cancelled it and erased the public summaries. In this video Tony Brooks’s initial interest was captured by radiation fallout on his childhood home in St George, Utah.

When fear kills: the case of nuclear energy

This 45 minute video of a lecture “When kills: the case of nuclear energy” given at the William Dunn School of Pathology in Oxford, though not well cut, it has been well received.

Roll them out like Liberty Ships

Posted on social media this month on the task of providing energy for the world with SMRs and the need to build thousands:

Does the future have to look unrealistic?

Merchant Shipping (Nuclear Ships) Regulations

The Shipping Press report on the introduction of nuclear power in particular the lead being taken by the UK on Regulations. https://splash247.com/backing-for-nuclear-powered-ships-grows/

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in the UK published a consultation document last August seeking views on the proposed Merchant Shipping (Nuclear Ships) Regulations. These regulations would transpose chapter VIII in the annex to the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS) into UK law. A total of 11 of the 14 submissions now support nuclear powered ships. In light of the responses received, the UK government does not intend to significantly amend the prepared draft legislation which has been drafted to transpose SOLAS Chapter VIII into UK law. It is intended to make the regulations and bring them into force by the autumn of this year.

The maritime sector is spared much of the anti-nuclear attention lavished on land-based developments, it seems.

An IOMP-ICRP Webinar

For the enemies of LNT who understand the widespread damage and escalation of costs it has caused, there is an upcoming IOMP-ICRP Webinar: “Are radiation risks below 100 mGy for example through recurrent CT procedures of real concern for radiological protection?” Wednesday, 20th April 2022 at 12 pm GMT; Duration 1 hour.

Speakers: Werner Ruehm (Chmn ICRP), Dominique Laurier, Richard Wakeford (Manchester)

The posted summary:

Recent studies suggest that every year worldwide about a million patients might be exposed to doses of the order of 100 mGy of low-LET radiation, due to recurrent application of radioimaging procedures. This webinar provides a synthesis of recent epidemiological evidence on radiation-related cancer risks from low-LET radiation doses of this magnitude. Specifically, reviews of recent results are given with respect to a) the atomic bomb survivors (by W. Rühm), b) low dose-rate exposures during adulthood (by D. Laurier), and c) in utero and childhood exposures. (by R. Wakeford). Taken together, substantial evidence was found that ionizing radiation causes cancer at acute and protracted doses above 100 mGy, and growing evidence for doses below 100 mGy. It is concluded that doses of the order of 100 mGy from recurrent application of medical imaging procedures involving ionizing radiation are of concern, from the viewpoint of radiological protection.

Note how they conclude “the growing evidence of concern for doses below 100 mGy”.

Questions will be asked by Scientists for Accurate Radiation Information contesting this conclusion - but will perhaps be ignored. One day international bodies like ICRP will have to stop hiding behind the Precautionary Principle, a simplistic slogan, and accept that low and moderate doses of radiation are harmless and frequently beneficial.

On a lighter note

And on a lighter note, an imagined parental exchange with a small child:

“Mum, what is a meadow?”
“Darling, it’s like a solar farm but it’s green!”


Recommended Article this month

Coming to Terms with Nuclear Waste

At a Reception to promote the funding of Sizewell C organised by Rothschild & Co in the City I found myself talking to the host, Stephen Vaughan, Vice Chairman, Energy and Power, who turned out to be a former pupil! He stressed the importance of addressing the fear of nuclear waste. As a result I wrote the Article, posted this month: Coming to Terms with Nuclear Waste.

Link: https://sone.org.uk/coming-to-terms-with-nuclear-waste/