AWARENESS MESSAGES Why talk about nuclear power plants? Nuclear power plants operate in most states in the country and produce about 20 percent of the nation’s power. Nearly three million people live within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of an operating nuclear power plant. Nuclear power plants use the heat generated from nuclear fission in a contained environment to convert water to steam, which powers generators to produce electricity. Nuclear radiation is a by-product of nuclear fission, and radioactive particles released into the air can be harmful to people, animals, crops, and the environment. Although the construction and operation of nuclear power plants are closely monitored and regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), accidents at these plants are possible. An accident at a nuclear power plant could release dangerous levels of radiation that could affect the health and safety of the people living near the plant. What plans are in place in case of an emergency? Local and state governments, federal agencies, and electric utility companies have emergency response plans that would be activated in the event of a nuclear power plant emergency. The plans define two “emergency planning zones.” The first zone covers the area within a 10-mile (16-kilometer) radius of the plant, where it is possible that people could be harmed by direct radiation exposure. The second zone covers a broader area, usually up to a 50-mile (80- kilometer) radius from the plant, where radioactive materials could contaminate water supplies, food crops, and livestock. Find out if you live in a nuclear power plant “emergency planning zone,” and, if you do, determine if you are in the first or second zone. Learn what actions you should take if there is an accident at the nuclear power plant. What is radiation? Radioactive materials are composed of atoms that are unstable. An unstable atom gives off its excess energy until it becomes stable. The energy emitted is radiation. Each of us is exposed to radiation daily from natural sources, including the sun and earth. Small traces of radiation are present in food and water. Radiation has a cumulative effect. The longer a person is exposed to radiation, the greater the risk. A high exposure to radiation can cause serious illness or death…

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