Nuclear Power: Not clean, not safe

by Kenneth A. Lichtenstein, MD
Former Professor of Medicine, University of Colorado
Former National President, Physicians for Social Responsibility
Current Chairman, Physicians for Social Responsibility Colorado

As a physician, I strongly recommend that Governor Polis veto the recently passed legislation, HB25-1040, which gives nuclear power "clean energy resource" status in Colorado law. 

It’s well documented that high-level radioactive waste from nuclear power plants is hazardous to human health, that there are over 90,000 metric tons in the U.S. (U.S. Government Accountability Office), and that there is no permanent place to store it. The radioactivity lasts for thousands of years.

Uranium mining also presents a risk to miners and populations living near the mines. The EPA reports that much uranium mining has been done on Native American lands, with 30 million tons produced on Navajo lands alone, resulting in contaminated water and increased cancer among miners.

Nor are nuclear power plants clean and safe. A 2024 peer reviewed study 2024.6.18 Health Effects of Occupational and Environmental Exposures to Nuclear Power Plants: A Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression published in Environmental Health Reports evaluated the association between radiation exposure to nuclear power plant workers and residents living within 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) of nuclear power plants and health impacts. 

The researchers looked at 47 studies of 175 nuclear power plants in 17 countries. Collectively, the studies included 480,623 workers and 7,530,886 residents. The researchers did not include studies of events and accidents such as Three Mile Island. They included only studies of nuclear power plants that operated within the limits set by the International Commission on Radiological Protection in 1990. In other words, they were by all measures, operating within safe limits.

Residents living within 30 kilometers of nuclear power plants had a 5% increased all-cancers combined risk, a 17% increased risk for thyroid cancer and a 9% increased risk for leukemia. Children under 5 had a 9% increased risk for all cancers combined.

Because the evidence points to health risks to surrounding communities from mining, nuclear power plant operations, and storage of nuclear waste, as a healthcare professional, I want our governor to know I find this to be an unacceptable risk.  

Dr. Lichtenstein served on the Nuclear Complex Cleanup Commission for the Office of Technology Assessment, was appointed by Governor Romer to the Rocky Flats Health Advisory Panel, and testified before the House Armed Services Committee concerning the health impact of the nuclear weapons complex.