Radiation is naturally occurring in our environment, due to cosmic rays and uranium and other radioactive elements in the rocks and soil. Radon, released from rocks, is one of the more commonly known naturally occurring radiation sources. Radiation is measured in units called millirem. An American’s average exposure to radiation is about 360 millirem per year. Roughly 300 millirem comes from natural sources of radiation, and 60 millirem come from man-made sources, primarily medical procedures.*
Nuclear power plants emit very little radiation. However, extremely sensitive equipment is available to very precisely monitor the negligible amounts of radiation that leave the plant during routine operation. A person living directly outside a nuclear power facility would receive approximately one additional millirem per year–less than what the average American receives from watching television and far less than many of the other exposure one encounters on a routine basis. Regardless of how minimal this exposure is, plant operators monitor all discharges and analyze nearby environmental samples to ensure that established and conservative safe levels are not exceeded.
*Department of Energy, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management
Nuclear power plants emit very little radiation. However, extremely sensitive equipment is available to very precisely monitor the negligible amounts of radiation that leave the plant during routine operation. A person living directly outside a nuclear power facility would receive approximately one additional millirem per year–less than what the average American receives from watching television and far less than many of the other exposure one encounters on a routine basis. Regardless of how minimal this exposure is, plant operators monitor all discharges and analyze nearby environmental samples to ensure that established and conservative safe levels are not exceeded.
