Another dangerous finding is that it is not only irradiated cells which are affected. Other cells are affected by their interaction with the irradiated ones leading to a genomic instability. Especially vulnerable are the progeny of the irradiated cells, possibly due to DNA strand breakage effects.
While we debate over the radiation from reactors, mines and wastes, all over the world radio-scientists are worried today even about diagnostic help from radiation, such is the threat perceived from low dose radiation.
Every step of the nuclear power cycle from mine to reactor, and thence to waste dump, deals with highly radioactive material. A little human or machine error, the like of which is remediable in, say, thermal or hydel power plants without much damage, will, in a nuclear facility, lead to dangerous leaks and spills of radioactivity.
