From: Bruno Santos
As if it is not enough, coal ash is radioactive. As a
matter of a fact, it pollutes the environment with much more radiation than
nuclear plants waste does.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=coal-ash-is-more-radioactiv
e-than-nuclear-waste
Conclusion of the article - living near a coal plant 3 to 6 times riskier
than living near a nuclear plant, in terms of annual radiation dose.
Radiation from coal is found in the ash (which is disposed of) but also is
exhausted directly into air, where it does the most harm. Testing of
estimated fly ash radiation in individuals' bones near coal plants was
around 18 millirems a year. Doses for those the living near nuclear plants
was between three and six millirems for the same period. And if food was
grown in the area, radiation doses were 50 to 200 percent higher around the
coal plants than around nuclear plants.
Plus - natural gas - which touts itself as "clean" compared to coal - also
releases more radiation than nuclear plants. Depending on where the methane
comes from, radon and/or tritium is found in the gas and it goes directly
into the air (in your home with a gas fired stove).
http://nucleargreen.blogspot.com/2011/02/radioactive-radon-in-home-natural-g
as.html
I can measure a significant radiation signal coming for the exhaust duct of
our gas-fired hot water heater when it turns on (this is in California)
although to be honest, it has gone down in recent years.
The dose of radiation in natural gas depends on where the gas-well is
located - and the worst (most toxic methane) is said to be from "fracking"
sites...
Jones
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