In a nuclear power plant, energy is released in the reactor fuel as a result of nuclear fission. (Moss) Most of the radioactivity in a power plant originates in the fission process. (Moss) A release of fission products is possible if the core were to melt due to lack of cooling. (Moss) However, all nuclear power plants in the United States are equipped with emergency core cooling systems and a sequence of barriers to prevent the escape of fission products. (Moss)

There are two types of nuclear power plants used in the United States; boiling water reactors and pressurized water reactors. (Hinrichs) In both kinds, steam is used to turn a turbogenerator to produce electricity. (Moss) In a boiling water reactor, the reactor itself produces steam, while in a pressurized wat

The days following the accident were a nightmare to residents living in the area around the plant near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. News and media that conveyed the story induced fear of harmful radioactive releases into the environment into the surrounding communities. (Burton) Effects of radiation exposure include increased risk of cancer, birth defects, and genetic abnormalities. (Moss) More than fifty percent of residents living in a twenty mile radius of Three Mile Island fled after the incident. (Burton) The biggest health effect that can be associated with the accident on Three Mile Island is the mental stress it caused residents living in the area. (Burton)

The biggest question following the Three Mile Island accident was whether or not hazardous radioactive material leaked into the environment. (Moss) Thousands of samples were taken around the plant and in the neighboring communities following the incident. (Moss) The radiation found was very minimal, well below levels associated with health effects. (Moss) The potential risk of cancer as a result of the radiation released is an increase of about .0002 percent. (Moss)

The accident at Three Mile Island placed a large strain on the nation's economy. Millions of dollars were spent on modifications and improvements to other nuclear power plants around the nation. (Moss) Since the construction of many nuclear power plants was cancelled and no new plants were built, nuclear vendors and constructors went out of business. (Burton) Nuclear plants around the nation lost their capitol value and the property value of houses around nuclear power plants plummeted. (Moss)

The mental stress induced in the American minds after the Three Mile Island accident and the harmful physiological effects of the Chernobyl explosion on the people of the Ukraine severely lowered the worlds' confidence in nuclear power. It

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1267
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)