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Related Concept Videos

Nuclear Power02:36

Nuclear Power

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Controlled nuclear fission reactions are used to generate electricity. Any nuclear reactor that produces power via the fission of uranium or plutonium by bombardment with neutrons has six components: nuclear fuel consisting of fissionable material, a nuclear moderator, a neutron source, control rods, reactor coolant, and a shield and containment system.
Nuclear Fuels
Nuclear fuel consists of a fissile isotope, such as uranium-235, which must be present in sufficient quantity to provide a...
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Nuclear Stability03:18

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Protons and neutrons, collectively called nucleons, are packed together tightly in a nucleus. With a radius of about 10−15 meters, a nucleus is quite small compared to the radius of the entire atom, which is about 10−10 meters. Nuclei are extremely dense compared to bulk matter, averaging 1.8 × 1014 grams per cubic centimeter. If the earth’s density were equal to the average nuclear density, the earth’s radius would be only about 200 meters.
To hold positively charged protons together...
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Nuclear Transmutation03:20

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Nuclear transmutation is the conversion of one nuclide into another. It can occur by the radioactive decay of a nucleus, or the reaction of a nucleus with another particle. The first manmade nucleus was produced in Ernest Rutherford’s laboratory in 1919 by a transmutation reaction, the bombardment of one type of nuclei with other nuclei or with neutrons. Rutherford bombarded nitrogen-14 atoms with high-speed α particles from a natural radioactive isotope of radium and observed...
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Nuclear Fission02:50

Nuclear Fission

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Many heavier elements with smaller binding energies per nucleon can decompose into more stable elements that have intermediate mass numbers and larger binding energies per nucleon—that is, mass numbers and binding energies per nucleon that are closer to the “peak” of the binding energy graph near 56. Sometimes neutrons are also produced. This decomposition of a large nucleus into smaller pieces is called fission. The breaking is rather random with the formation of a large...
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Nuclear Fusion02:45

Nuclear Fusion

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The process of converting very light nuclei into heavier nuclei is also accompanied by the conversion of mass into large amounts of energy, a process called fusion. The principal source of energy in the sun is a net fusion reaction in which four hydrogen nuclei fuse and ultimately produce one helium nucleus and two positrons.
A helium nucleus has a mass that is 0.7% less than that of four hydrogen nuclei; this lost mass is converted into energy during the fusion. This reaction produces about...
30.8K
Nuclear Binding Energy02:13

Nuclear Binding Energy

12.9K
The difference between the calculated and experimentally measured masses is known as the mass defect of the atom. In the case of helium-4, the mass defect indicates a “loss” in mass of 4.0331 amu – 4.0026 amu = 0.0305 amu. The loss in mass accompanying the formation of an atom from protons, neutrons, and electrons is due to the conversion of that mass into energy that is evolved as the atom forms. The nuclear binding energy is the energy produced when the atoms’ nucleons...
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Laser-heating and Radiance Spectrometry for the Study of Nuclear Materials in Conditions Simulating a Nuclear Power Plant Accident
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Laser-heating and Radiance Spectrometry for the Study of Nuclear Materials in Conditions Simulating a Nuclear Power Plant Accident

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The Nuclear Legacy in Appalachia.

Michele Morrone1, Harold Perkins1

  • 1Ohio University.

Journal of Appalachian Health
|June 30, 2022
PubMed
Summary

The Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS) in Ohio enriched uranium for nuclear weapons, exposing workers and the community to radiation and pollution. Site demolition continues, but contamination risks persist, impacting local areas.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Public Health
  • Nuclear History

Background:

  • The Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS) in Appalachia, Ohio, operated for over 40 years.
  • This facility was crucial for enriching uranium for nuclear weapons during the Cold War.
  • PORTS released pollutants and exposed workers to radiation, impacting the surrounding community.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To document the historical role of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS).
  • To highlight the environmental and health impacts on the surrounding community.
  • To address the ongoing effects of site contamination and demolition.

Main Methods:

  • Historical record review of plant operations and environmental discharges.
  • Analysis of community health and environmental monitoring data.
Keywords:
AppalachiaCold Warenriched uraniumnuclear fuelnuclear weaponspollutionradiationrural health

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  • Case study of recent contamination events, such as the middle school closure.

    • Main Results:

    • PORTS enriched uranium, contributing to national security but causing significant environmental contamination.
    • Workers and the local community experienced exposure to hazardous chemicals and radiation.
    • Ongoing demolition and site repurposing efforts are complicated by persistent contamination.

    Conclusions:

    • The legacy of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS) continues to affect the health and environment of Appalachian Ohio.
    • Continued monitoring and remediation are essential to mitigate long-term risks.
    • The site's history underscores the need for careful management of nuclear facilities and their environmental impact.