Madam, – I read with some incredulity Prof William Reville’s article suggesting that Ireland should seek to develop nuclear energy (Science Today, April 21st).
Prof Reville acknowledges that people did die in dealing with, and cancer issues following, the Chernobyl disaster, but, as is usual with pro-nuclear apologists, he downplays the numbers. Other studies suggest as many as 830,000 deaths may be due to the disaster and the whole problem with Chernobyl is that official health bodies have not done enough studies on the health effects of the disaster. Similarly, there is a very active debate over the effects of low-level radiation, with the German government’s “KiKK” report definitively suggesting that childhood cancers are significantly higher within 5km of a nuclear power plant.
The UK independent response to this report has been delayed for more than a year and the German report has been written by some of the most eminent epidemologists in the country. Coastal communities across the east coast of Ireland remain worried about the health effects of Sellafield – that’s why I am involved in this issue.
Prof Reville needs to answer a very simple question – from where will the money come for nuclear energy in Ireland? A reactor will conservatively cost around €7-10 billion, a nuclear safety regime would have to be developed which would mean billions more and it would cost further billions to manage the dangerous waste nuclear power inevitably generated. What Irish community seriously would want it anyhow? If Europe’s industrial powerhouse Germany can decide, post Fukushima, that nuclear is finished and the future is renewables, energy efficiency and mcirogeneration then I think Ireland should do the same; save a few billion euro and provide clean, safe energy on the way. – Yours, etc,