Consider the following places:1. Three Mile Island2. Chernobyl3. Fukus...
- Initially, nuclear energy was hailed as a non-polluting way for generating electricity. Later on, it was realised that the use of nuclear energy has two very serious inherent problems. The first is accidental leakage, as occurred in the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl incidents and the second is safe disposal of radioactive wastes.
- Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania, United States o Loss of coolant and partial core meltdown due to operator errors and technical flaws. There was a small release of radioactive gases.
- Chernobyl, Kiev Oblast, Ukraininan SSR, Soviet Union A flawed reactor design and inadequate safety procedures led to a power surge that damaged the fuel rods of reactor no. 4 of the Chernobyl power plant. This caused an explosion and meltdown, necessitating the evacuation of 300,000 people and dispersing radioactive material across Europe.
- Fukushima, Japan The Fukushima nuclear disaster was triggered by a tsunami that flooded and damaged the 3 active reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, drowning two workers. Loss of backup electrical power led to overheating, meltdowns, and evacuations.
- Deepwater Horizon oil spill, also called Gulf of Mexico oil spill o It is largest marine oil spill in history, caused by an April 20, 2010, explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig—located in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 41 miles (66 km) off the coast of Louisiana—and its subsequent sinking.
- Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.
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Consider the following places:1. Three Mile Island2. Chernobyl3. Fukus...
Understanding the Nuclear Accidents
In the context of the places listed, three of them are directly associated with nuclear accidents. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
1. Three Mile Island
- Location: Pennsylvania, USA
- Event: In March 1979, a partial meltdown occurred at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant.
- Impact: Though there were no immediate injuries or deaths, it raised significant public concern about nuclear safety.
2. Chernobyl
- Location: Ukraine (then part of the Soviet Union)
- Event: In April 1986, a reactor explosion at the Chernobyl plant released a massive amount of radioactive particles into the atmosphere.
- Impact: This disaster is considered the worst nuclear accident in history, leading to widespread environmental contamination and long-term health effects.
3. Fukushima
- Location: Japan
- Event: In March 2011, a massive earthquake and tsunami triggered a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
- Impact: The incident led to the release of radioactive materials and necessitated large-scale evacuations and long-term monitoring of the area.
4. Deepwater Horizon
- Location: Gulf of Mexico
- Event: In April 2010, an offshore drilling rig experienced a catastrophic blowout.
- Impact: This incident led to the largest marine oil spill in history but is not related to nuclear energy or accidents.
Conclusion
Only Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima are associated with nuclear accidents, making the correct answer option 'C' – only three places are linked to nuclear incidents.