Living near a nuclear power plant is considered safe by regulators. Routine radiation exposure is very low, and plants have emergency plans for the surrounding area.
Safety
Regulators consider it safe. The NRC says people within 50 miles of a plant receive about 0.01 millirem a year from it. Natural background is about 310 millirem.
Emergency planning
There is a 10 mile emergency planning zone.
Risk
Accidents are rare but possible, as at Three Mile Island (1979), Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011).
Health studies
Studies near US plants found no increase in cancer.
Prepare
Know your evacuation plan.
Safety record and regulation
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulates 54 operating nuclear plants with 94 reactors (as of recent counts). Plants have containment structures, redundant safety systems and are designed to withstand earthquakes and severe weather. Radiation exposure from living within 50 miles of a plant averages about 0.01 millirem per year, far below the roughly 300 millirem average annual background dose.
- A 1990 National Cancer Institute study of counties near 62 nuclear facilities found no excess cancer deaths.
- The 1979 Three Mile Island accident released minor radiation and produced no detectable health effects, per studies. Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011) were far more serious and led to design changes.
- Each plant has an emergency planning zone of about 10 miles for evacuation and 50 miles for ingestion pathway.
Preparing
Residents near plants receive information on sirens, evacuation routes and potassium iodide in some states. Sign up for local alerts, keep an emergency kit and know the plan. Check your state emergency management agency for information. Nuclear plants provide about 19 percent of US electricity and about half of carbon-free power.
Safety record and regulation
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission licenses 54 commercial reactors at about 28 sites as of 2024. No member of the public has died from radiation due to a US commercial reactor accident. The 1979 Three Mile Island accident released little radiation. Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011) were far more serious.
Preparing
Residents within 10 miles of a plant are in the emergency planning zone with sirens and potassium iodide plans. Learn evacuation routes.
What studies show
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the National Cancer Institute reviewed cancer risk near nuclear power plants and found no increased risk of cancer death for people living near them. Plants emit very low levels of radiation. The average American receives about 6.2 millisieverts a year, mostly from radon and medical scans, while living within 50 miles of a plant adds about 0.0001 millisieverts.
Risks and safety planning
The main risk is a rare accident, such as Chernobyl in 1986 or Fukushima in 2011, while Three Mile Island in 1979 had minimal off site release. US plants have containment structures, and emergency planning zones extend 10 miles for the plume and 50 miles for ingestion. Residents may receive potassium iodide and evacuation information. Check your local emergency plan. Nuclear power also has low deaths per unit of energy compared with fossil fuels.
Based on data from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the National Cancer Institute
