Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is radiation?
A. Radiation is energy given off by atoms in the form of particles or waves.

Q. What kind of radiation comes from nuclear power plants?
A. An operating nuclear power plant produces radiation that is basically no different from nature’s radiation. Radiation takes place in a nuclear reactor when atoms are split in what is called a "fission" process. The resulting fragments are in an "excited" state. They’re extremely active and constantly changing. These excited atoms can’t exist in nature for long periods. They continue to give off energy in the form of heat and radiation. Over time they return to a permanent, or "stable," form. The time can vary from a second or less, to thousands of years, depending on the atom.

Q. How is radiation detected?
A. You can’t see, hear, feel, taste, or smell radiation, but special meters can easily detect it. The radiation levels around nuclear power plants are continuously checked. In the event of an accident affecting your area, you’d be told what to do to minimize your exposure to radiation.

Q. What’s the risk from exposure to radiation?
A. The harm that can come from radiation depends on several things, some of which you can control. Radiation risk depends on:

• The kind of rays and particles that strike you.
• The length of time you are exposed.
• The parts of your body exposed.
• The amount of radioactive material that enters your body through eating or breathing.

Radiation does more harm to young children because the cells in their bodies are growing much faster than the cells of older children and adults.

Q. What are some sources of radiation?
A. There’s nothing unusual or mysterious about radiation. It is always with us — in the air we breathe, the food we eat, the homes we live in, the water we drink, the ground we walk on, and even in our bodies.