To Open The Sky
The Front Pages of Christopher P. Winter
Accidents Involving Nuclear Energy
About My Sources
I consulted a great many sources in preparing this list. In general, I found them divided into five categories:
- Tests of nuclear weapons
- Other military nuclear accidents (typically involving aircraft, missiles & spacecraft)
- Incidents involving nuclear reactors
- Mishaps with medical & industrial radioisotopes
- Nuclear submarine accidents
Being the most dramatic, nuclear weapons get the most comprehensive coverage. Among the best sources are those put together by Carey Sublette, and the NRDC. Also look for the Traveler's Guide to Nuclear Weapons. Major military nuclear accidents are well catalogued by Tiwari and Gray, and Allen Lutins includes those as well as some reactor and industrial incidents. Robert Johnston's Archive is probably the best single source for commercial radiological accidents. A good chronological source for both military and commercial accidents is found in the Nationmaster Encyclopedia. Submarine accidents tend to be covered separately from others, and by those formerly associated with them. There's also a list put together by Italian Alessandro Marescotti: It starts in 1954, but stops in 1989; and it includes all marine accidents, even those involving private yachts. The best reference for Russian submarine activities is probably Norway's Bellona site.
Truly comprehensive sources are few; they tend to be clumsy to use and light on detail. Greenpeace has a fairly thorough list, but it's a "This day in history" setup, which makes it hard to view data for one specific year. Also, it cuts off at 1996. A newer Greenpeace source is organized as a Java calendar: it presents data one month at a time. There's also Let the Facts Speak, an extensive list put together in 1991 by Ruth Coleman and the staff of Jo Vallentine, but it is riddled with errors and duplicate entries. Also, there's a certain bias in these sources. Both Coleman and Vallentine are former senators for Australia's Green Party, and Greenpeace's anti-nuclear stance is well known. Perhaps the best comprehensive source is "NuclearFiles.org".
Below I present a categorized, annotated list of selected Web sites, and some print references.
An Organized List of Reference Sites
Checked and updated 12 July 2020
(Previous updates — 22 July 2010, September 2007, February 2009)
General References
| 1. | A Brief Chronology of Radiation and Protection |
| Despite its title, this six-part list by J. Ellsworth Weaver III (© 1994, 1995) may be the most comprehensive chronology to be found on the Web. |
| 1. | A compendium of links on Radiation and reactors |
| The links, provided by Google Sites, include status on Japan's Fukushima Daiichi reactors, information on radiation safety, and the dangers of tanning beds. |
| 2. | The Nuclear History Site |
| This once-useful site has disappeared from Geocities. Even the Wayback Machine holds no record of it at that address. Another former URL is "nuclearhistory.tripod.com". Some portions of this are preserved by The Wayback Machine. |
| 3. | International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) |
| The IAEA is the go-to source for nuclear accidents. But it will make you do some digging. |
| 4. | Atom City — Your Home in a Nuclear World |
| This now defunct site provided "links and information related to nuclear issues, including those of the nuclear power industry and environmental radiation protection." Some of what it offered can be found on the Wayback Machine if you enter the base URL "http://www.atomcity.com/" . I'm not sure why it vanished. |
| 5. | Nuclear Technology ~ A Primer ~ |
| These pages from the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility are focused on Canada, as you might expect. They nevertheless hold much interesting material. |
| 6. | Nuclear Age Timeline 1895 - 1993 |
| A very classy site provided by the Radiochemistry Society. |
Atomic Bombs and Bomb Tests
| 1. | Table of Known Nuclear Tests Worldwide |
| Formerly a table of known nuclear tests worldwide, this link now redirects to the Natural Resources Defense Council's campaign against nuclear power. |
| 2. | The Nuclear Weapon Archive |
| Carey Sublette's massive compilation of facts and images |
| 3. | The Traveler's Guide to Nuclear Weapons |
| A collection of PDFs on the history of U.S. atomic sites (Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, etc.) and a large collection of links to other sources |
| 4. | Nuclear Tests—Databases and Other Material |
| Robert Johnston's nuclear tests database includes a version for casual users and a detailed version with more technical data. |
| 5. | Atomic Veterans History Project |
First-person accounts by participants in atomic bomb tests, and a list of declassified videos available. Plus information on the late Edward Martell, a radiochemist frequently called by the AEC as an expert witness — until June 1962, when he disclosed evidence that Nevada tests were the major source of downwind radio-iodine. |
| 6. | Openness, by Hazel O'Leary |
| Hazel O'Leary was DOE Secretary during president Clinton's first term (1993-1997). She led a drive to declassify documents relating to plutonium inventories, weapon-site contamination, and radiological experiments that occurred during the Cold War. This document lays forth her approach, and reveals a few interesting facts. |
| 7. | Hazel O'Leary does us a favor by declassifying data |
| Hazel O'Leary's openness was not greeted with universal acclaim. The Washington Times, though generally regarded as a conservative paper, strongly favored it. I concur. |
| 8. | Some Fact Sheets in the National Nuclear Security Administration Library |
| This recently reorganized site hosts a wealth of information. |
| 9. | Trinity Atomic Web Site |
| This site, created by Gregory Walker, is a mirror of the original site hosted by Los Alamos National Laboratory. It's now a companion to Carey Sublette's Web site, focuses on the history of nuclear weapons and holds many public domain documents. |
| 10. | National Atomic Testing Museum and Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation |
| Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, the National Atomic Testing Museum opened to the public in March 2005. Operated by the Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation, it covers the history of the NTS from its first detonation on 27 January 1951 to the present. In 2020, however, it's not clear how much information is available online. |
| 11. | DoE National Nuclear Security Administration: Nevada Test Site Environmental Programs |
| Documents relating to the Nevada Test Site itself |
Incidents Involving Deployed Nuclear Weapons
| 1. | Broken Arrows and Bent Spears: The Frightening World of Nuclear Accidents |
| A CNN Interactive feature by Bruce Kennedy — now MIA. |
| 2. | Nuclear files |
| A chronology of the nuclear age (now with outdated security certificate) |
| 3. | Selected Accidents Involving Nuclear Weapons 1950-1993 |
| This is a short list of accidents involving nuclear weapons, vessels or submarines from 1950 to 1993, and was originally published on the Greenpeace Web site. (now with outdated security certificate) |
| 4. | The Russian Northern Fleet: Nuclear submarine accidents |
| Covers the major Soviet accidents and their known causes. |
| 5. | List of sunken nuclear submariness |
| Includes Russian, Soviet, and U.S. nuclear submarines. (The Soviet diesel-electric sub K-129 that carried nuclear ICBMs is not listed.) |
The Development of a Commercial Nuclear Power Industry
| 1. | Uranium Information Centre |
| This Australian site presenting "Information on nuclear energy for electricity, and uranium for it" no longer exists. It refers visitors to the Australian Uranium Association (http://aua.org.au/) and to the World Nuclear Association. |
| 2. | Welcome to the World Nuclear Association |
| Representing the technology, people and organisations of the global nuclear energy industry |
| 3. | The Canadian Nuclear Society |
| The Canadian Nuclear Society maintains an active site providing news and historical information, plus some good books. |
| 4. | The Development of Nuclear Power |
| This informal history by John Foster of the Canadian Nuclear Society focuses mainly on Canada's development of the CANDU reactor. Since 2008, it is found only in the Wayback Machine. |
| 5. | The Canadian Nuclear FAQ |
| Dr. Jeremy Whitlock provides a lot of information on CANDU reactors, well-illustrated with photographs, some interesting editorials, and a fine collection of links. (Security certificate) |
| 6. | Adams Atomic Engines |
| Their slogan is "Nuclear Power for the rest of us." Their business is nuclear-fueled gas-turbine powerplants for cruise ships and merchant marine vessels. Their Web site has interesting documents. Read what they say about the freighter Savannah, the world's first (and so far only) atom-powered commercial ship. |
| 7. | The Virtual Nuclear Tourist |
| Joseph Gonyeau introduces us to nuclear power plants around the world. (A site revision is in progress.) |
| 8. | The Interactive Plasma Physics Education Experience! |
| "This site contains Interactive Plasma Physics Topics, ranging from electricity, magnetism, energy, and fusion. Please visit the "Virtual Tokamak" and our 'Virtual Magnetic Stability Module' to learn about Plasma and Fusion Containment." Some of the site's best features require Macromedia's Shockwave plug-in. Slow to load, but worth the wait. |
| 9. | General Atomics' Fusion Education Program |
| They're on a mission to provide educators and students with information about hydrogen fusion. |
| 10. | U.S. Nuclear Reactors |
| An Energy Information Administration site on U.S. nuclear reactors. |
Commercial Nuclear Industry Incidents and Accidents
| 1. | Nuclear files |
| A chronology of the nuclear age |
| 2. | 4 0 Y e a r s o f N u c l e a r D i s a s t e r |
| Here's the Java-based Greenpeace calendar of nuclear incidents. Is it biased against nuclear power? Yes, obviously. But none of the hundreds of problems it lists is made up. (404) |
| 3. | Soviet Nuclear Power: Out of Control? |
| An essay by John Hallam (25 September 1991) |
| 4. | International Nuclear Safety Center |
| Operating under the guidance of the Director of International Nuclear Safety and Cooperation (NN-30) in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the International Nuclear Safety Center (INSC) has the mission of improving nuclear power reactor safety worldwide. INSC is run by the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) and currently focused on Soviet-designed nuclear power plants in Russia and Eastern Europe. Here it provides a database on reactor design features, much of which is open to the public. |
Advanced Reactor Designs
| 1. | Integral Fast Reactors: Source of Safe, Abundant, Non-Polluting Power |
| by George S. Stanford, Ph.D., December 2001 |
| 2. | Advanced Reactors (non-LWR designs) |
| An overview by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) |
| 3. | 3 Advanced Reactor Systems to Watch by 2030 (DoE Office of Nuclear Energy, 7 March 2018) |
| An overview of three concepts: The sodium-cooled fast reactor; the very high temperature reactor; the molten salt reactor |
| 4. | Nuclear Energy Blog & Milestones (DoE Office of Nuclear Energy) |
| A site to watch for new developments |
| 5. | Advanced Nuclear Power Reactors (World Nuclear Association, February 2020) |
| An overview of the characteristics of Gen-III reactors and progress in their development. |
| 6. | The Database on Advanced Nuclear Power Reactors (International Atomic Energy Agency) |
| The site provides introductory information on 11 different design types in four categories. |
| 7. | Advanced Nuclear (Nuclear Energy Institute) |
| This is primarily an advocacy site. |
| 8. | Terrestrial Energy’s Integral Molten Salt Reactor |
| The company is touting its modular 190MWe design. |
| 9. | The ARC-100 Reactor Concept (Advanced Reactor Concepts LLC) |
| "The mission of Advanced Reactor Concepts, L.L.C. (ARC) is to commercialize a disruptive new technology for power generation in the form of an advanced small modular nuclear reactor." |
Nuclear Politics
| 1. | Nuclear Reaction: Why Do Americans Fear Nuclear Power? |
| A set of topical Web pages by Frontline (PBS/WGBH) |
| 2. | Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS) |
| This organization, now allied with the Paris-based World Information Service on Energy (WISE), undertakes to educate the public about nuclear power and sustainable energy issues generally: "NIRS/WISE is the information and networking center for citizens and environmental organizations concerned about nuclear power, radioactive waste, radiation, and sustainable energy issues. We hope you like our new website, which is still being developed—look for lots of new features and information in the weeks and months to come. Your comments and suggestions are welcomed." |
| 3. | Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER): Where Science and Democracy Meet |
| "IEER is dedicated to increasing public involvement in and control over environmental problems through the democratization of science." Their site provides news and commentary with a decidedly anti-nuke slant. |
| 4. | News from the Nuclear Energy Institute |
| This decidedly pro-nuclear site provides up-to-the-minute headlines as well as background information. |
| 5. | What Did We Learn from Three Mile Island? |
| Rod Adams posted this assessment on 25 March 2014. |
| 6. | Alsos Digital Library for Nuclear Issues |
| "It is the mission of the Alsos Digital Library for Nuclear Issues to make the history and current status of nuclear issues more accessible and comprehensible to the general public as well as to students and educators in the many fields influenced by the forces of the nuclear age." (Forced to close in 2019 "due to security issues." |
| 7. | PRAIRIE ISLAND COALITION: Good Nukes — Almost Good Enough |
| One of the best sites in opposition to nuclear power |
| 8. | Let the Facts Speak |
| The fourth edition of this "Indictment of the nuclear industry" by Ruth Coleman, published February 2012. |
| 9. | Commentary: Is Nuclear Energy Clean and Safe? |
| Beth Wellington's commentary, studded with relevant links, was published on 6 June 2006. |
| 10. | Beyond Nuclear |
| "Working for a world free from nuclear power and nuclear weapons." |
| 11. | An American Chernobyl: Near Misses at U.S. Reactors Since 1986 |
| A detailed report on reactor accidents (67-page PDF, published 2007) |
Radiation, Human Health and the Environment
| 1. | United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) |
| UNSCEAR is the source for a series of reports known generally as "SOURCES AND EFFECTS OF IONIZING RADIATION". The latest is the 2004 report. Reports are also available for 1977, 1982, 1986, 198, 1993, 194, 1996, 2000 (2 vols.) and 2001. (Click the "Reports" menu entry; there is no direct link.) |
| 2. | Database of Radiological Incidents and Related Events |
| William Robert Johnston's radiological accidents database includes a chronology of accidents worldwide and several auxiliary tables. |
| 3. | Chernobyl Nuclear Accident: In Focus |
| A compendium of information and views on the 1986 reactor accident. |
| 4. | The Human Consequences of the Chernobyl Accident: A Strategy for Recovery |
| United Nations organizations issue a report calling for action to counter Chernobyl's consequences. (78-page PDF) |
| 5. | Nuclear Fuel in the Destroyed 4th Unit of Chernobyl NPP |
| A 14-page PDF by Volodymyr M. Pavlovych, of the Institute for Nuclear Research of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine |
| 6. | The Chornobyl Accident, Radiation, and Health Concerns |
| A 28-page PDF by G. J. Vargo, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, August 2000 |
| 7. | Critical Mass Energy and Environment Program |
| Public Citizen's Critical Mass Energy and Environment Program (16-page PDF archived at Grist.) |
| 8. | Information about source points of anthropogenic radioactivity |
| Part of RADNET: "An information resource for persons interested in the public safety consequences and radioecological impact of nuclear accidents and industries" |
| 9. | All Levels of Radiation Confirmed to Cause Cancer |
| Nuclear Information and Resource Service, June 30, 2005 |
| 10. | Coal combustion: Nuclear Resource or Danger? |
| Oak Ridge National Laboratory metallurgist Alex Gabbard published this analysis of coal-plant emissions on 5 Feb 2008. (Now found at archive site ISSUU.) |
The Thorny Thicket of Arms Control
| 1. | Arms Control Agreements |
| Information on treaties and other agreements from the Federation of American Scientists |
| 2. | Arms Control Wonk |
| This is an arms control weblog maintained by Jeffrey Lewis with contributions from Paul Kerr. Both are employed in the arms control and policy-analysis area; thus, both are certifiable "arms-control wonks". Their blog, running on custom-ware donated by Jeffrey's friend Greg, provides up-to-the-minute news and scuttlebutt on deployments, destroyments and derangements. |
The Conundrum of Nuclear Waste
| 1. | U.S. DOE Office of Environmental Management |
| This is the agency tasked with managing the cleanup of all "spilled radioactivity" for which the U.S. is responsible. That includes Puerto Rico and the Marshall Islands Trust Territory as well as the 50 states. This Web page provides a map showing the locations of all monitored sites on a state-by-state basis. (17 states have no cleanup sites listed. Surprise: Oregon, Alaska and Hawaii are not among the 17.) |
| 2. | Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM) |
| Front and center at this DOE site: The Yucca Mountain Project |
| 3. | WasteLink: Your guide to radioactive waste resources on the Internet |
| A reference source boasting over 10,000 links in multiple world languages (flagged as of 2003), WasteLink is maintained by Herne Data Systems Ltd. of Canada. |
| 4. | Managing the Nation's Commercial High-Level Nuclear Waste |
| A 347-page, 5.94MB PDF document from 1985. |
| 5. | Nuclear Watch |
| A project of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League. |
| 6. | How do you clean up after a nuclear disaster? (Gretchen Gavett, Frontline, 28 February 2012) |
| Analysis of the response to the Fukushima Daiichi disaster |
Special Topics
| 1. | Rocky Flats Colorado History |
| A very detailed site by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) about the cleanup of Rocky Flats — after Hanford, perhaps the worst American site left behind by the Cold War |
| 2. | The Russian Radiation Legacy: Its Integrated Impact and Lessons |
| This is the abstract for the work by Marvin Goldman, Professor of Radiobiology Emeritus of the University of California at Davis, first published in Environmental Health Perspectives 105, Supplement 6, December 1997. It is now available on-line, courtesy of Prof. Goldman and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). And it's thanks to Glasnost that we have the information upon which the good professor based his thorough report. |
| 3. | A Review of Criticality Accidents: 2000 Revision (113-page PDF, 3.8 MB) |
| This document, "LA-13638 Reference Set", is provided by The Criticality Safety Information Resource Center both on-line as a PDF and in hardcopy form. It contains very detailed analyses of the causes of each listed accident. References from the document are also available on-line. The CSIRC is a service of Los Alamos National Laboratory. |
| 4. | $5,450,000 FINE FOR DAVIS-BESSE REACTOR VESSEL HEAD VIOLATIONS |
| Read this NRC News press release, a 2-page PDF dated 21 April 2005, about the record $5.45M fine levied against the operator of Ohio's Davis-Besse nuclear power plant. Then move up one level to see the other 2005 press releases from The Nuclear Regulatory Commission. |
PRINT REFERENCES
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To contact Chris Winter, send email to this address.Copyright © 2005-2024 Christopher P. Winter. All rights reserved.
This page was last modified on 20 September 2024.