Nuclear Leaks: Risks, Impact and Containment

Nuclear armaments are the most dangerous invention which holds the capability to burn away towns and make them uninhabitable for many year. The world has seen a good enough demonstration of the catastrophe it can cause with Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1945). The most recent example of nuclear risks are Pakistan threatening India with nuclear warfare, US trying to land a denuclearisation deal with Iran, Israel attacking nuclear sites in Iran. It is true that de-nuclearization of states sponsoring terrorism is important, but it is also equally important to maintain the well being of the people and that global leaders do not allow nuclear conflicts.

Coming to other aspects of nuclear risks, accidents do happen which can cause nuclear leaks. Improper storage of radioactive material, radioactive waste, reactor malfunctions, natural calamity can pose severe environmental, health and geopolitical risks. We have seen such incidents at Chernobyl (1986), Fukushima (2011), and Three Mile Island (1979). The consequences have been catastrophic.

With the threat of nuclear leaks and conflicts being more than ever in the present day geo-political situation, lets look at causes of nuclear leaks, their impacts and how it can be contained. Also, note that the scope of this article is limiting, nonetheless, it gives a good overview and understanding of what leads to a nuclear leak and in what direction the agencies work in order to contain it.

Causes of Nuclear Leaks

Nuclear leaks could happen due to many reasons.

Reactor meltdown- Over heating of the reactor could lead to the core meltdown. This happens when the heat generated by the nuclear fission reaction is more than what can be handled by the cooling systems in place. If cooling is lost and a breach happens in the reactor vessel, it can contaminate the building as well as the atmosphere. This was exactly the case in Chernobyl. The area around the Chernobyl nuclear reactor plant is still largely uninhabitable due to very high levels of radiation contamination in the region. It is a 30 Km radium around the power plant which is said to be uninhabitable for next 20,000 years!

Aging infrastructure - Corrosion and material fatigue of the nuclear power plants can happen over the years as they are continuously subjected to radiation, high temperatures and pressures. Even though nuclear power plants are built to last 40-50 years, continuous inspections and maintenance are required.

Improper waste disposal - Nuclear fuel which is spent, still remains radioactive for thousands of years. Leaks could happen from the spent nuclear fuel storage sites as well. Generally, a nuclear waste is stored in a cooling pond and then in dry containment casks. It is important that these containment facilities are properly built to last for thousands of years.

Nuclear Disaster - Earthquakes or Tsunamis in the area where nuclear facilities are located can damage the nuclear site. They can damage plant structure, electrical grids, power backups and cooling systems. In 2011, in Fukushima, Japan, an earthquake occurred followed by a Tsunami. It led to a triple meltdown of the Daichii nuclear power plant reactor which led to release of radiation in the air and ocean. This has been the second worst nuclear disaster after Chernobyl. A 20km radius area around the Daichii nuclear power plant has high radiation levels and is said to be uninhabitable for many decades to come.

Terrorist Attack - Nuclear facilities are potential targets for terrorist activities as it holds the potential to cause high damage, fear and casualties. Terrorists could try to damage the cooling systems, cyber breach or attack on the computer systems rendering them useless and hampering plant operations.

Armed Conflicts - Geo-political armed conflict today are become dangerous because most of the countries today have their hands on nuclear weapons. In times of war, it becomes crucial to make the opponent nuclear handicap in order to increase the chances of winning or having an upper hand. Hence intentional bombing or shelling of these nuclear sites becomes a strategic target.

Human Error - Human error can happen with the most experienced and trained. There can be any human errors like incorrect procedures formed, misinterpretation on sensor readings, improper repairs, oversight in inspections, insufficient trainings and complacency. TheThree Mile Island nuclear disaster (1979) was part cooling system malfunction and part human error in assessing the plant’s condition. Cooling malfunction led to a core meltdown.

Impact of Nuclear Leaks

Health Effects - Nuclear Leaks can have severe and prolonged health issues. While the health effects depend of the amount of radiation and duration of exposure, it is definitely not good in any scenario. Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS) occurs when people are exposed to strong radiation for short duration. It leads to nausea, headaches, diarrhoea, fatigue even hair loss, skin burns, organ damage. Exposure to radiation leads to increased cancer risks like leukemia or thyroid cancer, genetic mutations and birth defects, long-term psychological trauma amongst affected population. Nuclear radiation has the capability to alter the DNA, leading to genetic mutations that can pass on to future generations.

Environmental Effects - Contamination of soil and water resources with radiation is catastrophic in nature. The radioactive isotopes can contaminate the drinking water, destroy the aquatic life as well as agricultural produce using the same water. The radioactive substances that penetrate the soil make the agricultural land barren. Any agricultural produce or fauna for that matter which is consumed by other animals and humans enter the food chain affecting most of the living beings. This contamination leads to destruction of flora and fauna. The bees and insects may disappear, the tress may wilt.  As an example, after Chernobyl, a "Red Forest" of pine trees died from radiation exposure.

Economic and Social Effects - Massive relocation of afffected population, resettlement costs, long -term inaccessibility of land for agriculture and inhabitation, negative impact on agriculture and fisheries, loss of energy infrastructure. The economic and social effects of a nuclear disaster are immense.

Ways to Contain a Nuclear Leak

Immediate response includes evacuation of the affected zones, if evacuation is difficult then seal the populace indoors in a manner to have minimal risk. Distribution of iodine tablets (KI, which are not radioactive) which protects thyroid glands from radioactive iodine material. Radiation detectors must be installed immediately to understand the percentage of leak in an area and its spread due to factors like wind. Prevent fires near reactors.

Technical measures to contain a nuclear leak include encapsulation of a damaged reactor with the help of a concrete sarcophagus. Using Borate water to cool down the reactor and stop fission reactions. Reduce human presence and hence exposure in high-radiation areas. Use cryogenic freezing to seal off leaks in some reactors.

There are a few countries which are equipped to handle nuclear leaks at the moment. United States of America has advanced nuclear cleanup agencies like DOR and NRC. It also has robotic intervention technology. Ruddier has extensive nuclear technology and containment experience due to the Chernobyl incident. In Japan, post Fukushima, advancements have taken place in containment technologies. France has expertise through AREVA (A French company dealing in nuclear power sector) and EDF (Électricité de France is a major French state-owned electric utility company and one of the largest electricity producers globally). Germany has strong research and development in nuclear decommissioning and radioactive waste management. China has been doing Rapid development of modern nuclear containment facilities and training of response teams.

There are also organisations on global level involved. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). World Health Organization (WHO). United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

IAEA is the world’s “Atoms of Peace” and promotes safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technology. It sets standards and frameworks, provides technical assistance and verifies that nuclear materials are not used for weaponisation. WHO is crucial in assessing the health impact of nuclear emergencies and providing public health guidance. It also provides medical assistance, advises on counter measures like Potassium Iodide and helps countries prepare their health systems. UNEP focuses on environmental consequences of radioactive contamination, waste management and clean up efforts.

Some of the Chemical Used in Containment and Mitigation of a Nuclear Incident

Potassium Iodide (KI) - Blocks radioactive iodine being absorbed by the thyroid gland

Boron (Borated Water) - Absorbs neutrons and stops nuclear fission

Zeolites - Absorbes radioactive isotopes like Cesium - 137

Lead and Concrete - Radiation shielding materials

Sodium Tungstate - Experimental chemical to reduce strontium uptake

Activated Charcoal - Traps radioactive gases and particles

Phytoremediation - Absorb and immobilise radioactive materials from soil

Long term mitigation strategies

Decontamination in the long run is very important. Contaminated soil needs to be replaced for survival of biomes and agricultural produce. Surfaces like building walls and other exposed infrastructure need to be washed down. Long term cancer screen of the inhabitants of the area and the psychological and physiological effects need to be monitored. On policy and regulation level, global nuclear safety standards need to be maintained. It is important that next generation reactors are used by the countries like small modular reactors.

In today’s volatile geo-political scenario, it is important for any country to be a nuclear power. However, the risks of nuclear incidents also significant and it is important that countries build capabilities to manage and contain nuclear incidents with international collaboration, advanced technologies and continuous investments towards safety protocols.