By Professor John Robertson OBA
As a response to evidence that the UK [England] will need nuclear to meet its ‘Clean power by 2030‘ target1, the Torness plant in Scotland, where 46 cracks have recently been identified in the ageing reactor2, is to be kept in service until 2030.
Coincidentally, my alert on this topic today revealed, from the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (originally published 2 September 2024):
The scientists estimated that the mortality rate due to leukaemia increased by more than 250% per gray (Gy) of exposure (excess relative rate [ERR] per Gy, 2.68; 90% confidence interval, 1.13–4.55) and found the excess rate to be reasonably described by a linear dose–response model.3
British Medical Journal analysis offered this disturbing comment:
This major update to INWORKS provides a direct estimate of the association between protracted low dose exposure to ionising radiation and solid cancer mortality based on some of the world’s most informative cohorts of radiation workers. The summary estimate of excess relative rate solid cancer mortality per Gy is larger than estimates currently informing radiation protection, and some evidence suggests a steeper slope for the dose-response association in the low dose range than over the full dose range. 4
Put plainly, these finding suggest that there is a significant risk of cancer mortality for those exposed to radiation leaking from nuclear facilities, that it has been previously under-estimated and that it happens quickly to those who have only been exposed to a lower dose in the early years of that exposure.
Sources:
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c33dvekx021o
- https://nuclear-news.net/2024/07/24/3-b1-safety-warnings-as-cracks-rise-at-torness-nuclear-plant/
- https://www.iarc.who.int/news-events/leukaemia-lymphoma-and-multiple-myeloma-mortality-after-low-level-exposure-to-ionising-radiation-in-nuclear-workers-inworks/#:~:text=The%20scientists%20estimated%20that%20the,a%20linear%20dose%E2%80%93response%20model.
- https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj-2022-074520
Support Scots Independent, Scotland’s oldest pro-independence newspaper and host of the OBA (Oliver Brown Award) at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/shop/
The Oliver Brown Award for advancing the cause of Scotland’s self respect, previously awarded to Dr Philippa Whitford, Alex Salmond and Sean Connery: https://scotsindependent.scot/?page_id=116
About Oliver Brown, the first Scottish National Party candidate to save his deposit in a Parliamentary election: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Brown_(Scottish_activis
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
The people of Scotland are collateral, EngGovs’ priorities trump safety and health of the people, especially those in Scotland. Nuclear power is neither safe nor cheap and of course when things go even a wee bit wrong, it’s deadly for those exposed to the leaks and fall out.
Once again Scotland is used and abused by the country next door, it could be even worse though, under a LabCon/Reform administration at Holyrood…the stuff of nightmares.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Grid company are building a new Grid Distribution switching yard at Torness.
This is to be the site for the New HVDC cable to England.
You can fill in the site for the New pressurised water reactor for Scotland, yourself.
There are currently Four AGRs off line for refuelling.
LikeLike