• Question: Why is it so dangerous when nuclear power plants have a meltdown ?

    Asked by anon-240738 to Rebecca on 8 Mar 2020.
    • Photo: Rebecca Wong

      Rebecca Wong answered on 8 Mar 2020:

      Hi,

      A nuclear meltdown happens when the reaction in a plant gets out of control and produces so much heat that it causes damage to the plant. It’s dangerous because it can mean that radiation releases out from the reactor core to operators and even out to the public and environment, possibly harming the plants and animals too.

      A famous example of a meltdown was at Chernobyl in the 80s, in the Soviet Union.

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