253866 Environmental and public health impacts of nuclear power

Tuesday, November 1, 2011: 12:30 PM

Robert M. Gould, MD , Physicians for Social Responsibility, San Francisco, CA
In the context of the recent catastrophic events at the Fukushima nuclear complex in Japan, this presentation will examine the full range of environmental and public health issues associated with nuclear power in general, and the impacts of the current global push for nuclear power expansion justified as a solution to unfolding climate change. Issues to be covered include the history of nuclear power programs, issues of safety, waste, nuclear weapons proliferation and nuclear terrorism. The talk will also explore “carbon-free and nuclear-free” clean, safe and sustainable energy alternatives that can alternatively address the challenges of climate change while offering better protection of environmental and public health.

Learning Areas:
Environmental health sciences
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Assess the public health impacts of the nuclear fuel cycle Explain the relationship between nuclear power and nuclear weapons proliferation Analyze the health benefits of a carbon-free and nuclear-free energy policy

Keywords: Radiation, Public Health Policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the President of San-Francisco Bay Area Physicians for Social Responsibility and Chair of the APHA Peace Caucus. I have made scores of presentations on the issue of nuclear power and nuclear weapons and have numerous publications on these issues, including more recently the chapter i co-authored with Patrice Sutton on Nuclear and Radiological Weapons in the book, Terrorism and Public Health, Edited by Barry Levy and Victor W. Sidel, Oxford University Press (in press).
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: In the Wake of Fukushima, Is Nuclear Energy Healthy for Communities?
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