Nuclear waste: beyond Faust and fate
Regarding development of the nuclear industry and the resulting turmoil over generation of nuclear wastes, Dr. Maxey presents as a fundamental bioethical principle for organizing evidence and dealing with conflicting opinions the following formulation: social justice requires an equitable mangement of potential hazards that might have harmful health effects and unjustifiable social consequences. By equitable management she means: (1) comprehensively informing policymakers about the broad spectrum of hazards; (2) make comparisons of actual costs to reduce the effects; and (3) only then make policies and set standards that will get the most public protection out of a finite amount of money. Translating this principle into public policy is no easy task, since opponents have developed several arguments that appeal to nonscientific moral and ethical premises. Briefly, these statements can be summarized as: (a) indefinite delay of high-level waste disposal facilities is regarded as morally preferable to a policy of implementing one of several currently available options, and (b) it is claimed that involuntary risks of radiation exposure imposed on present and unconsulted future generations violate ethical principles of social justice and equity. Dr. Maxey uses most of the article in countering these premises and finally suggests the following bioethical principle for guidance: any involuntary risks imposed by social policies for radiation protection must be congruent with, must not be in excess of, and may be reasonably less than, those involuntary risks imposed by the naturally occurring toxic elements and harmful effects from our natural environment.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Detroit, MI
- OSTI ID:
- 5780413
- Journal Information:
- Electr. Perspect.; (United States), Vol. 3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
PUBLIC OPINION
PUBLIC POLICY
RISK ASSESSMENT
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DECISION MAKING
EVALUATION
HEALTH HAZARDS
NUCLEAR INDUSTRY
POLITICAL ASPECTS
PUBLIC HEALTH
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SAFETY
HAZARDS
INDUSTRY
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
052000* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Management
290600 - Energy Planning & Policy- Nuclear Energy