fairfolio
Saved Projects

Nuclear Power: Hot or Not?

CSEF · 2012 Environmental Science Honorable_mention Award

Elle G. Henriksen · St. Anne School, Laguna Niguel, Orange County

Overview

Objectives/Goals My objective was to investigate whether the levels of ionizing radiation increase with increased proximity to a Nuclear Power Plant. If I increase the proximity to the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), I predict that the amount of ionizing radiation (detected by a digital Geiger counter) in the environment will increase as compared to other Pacific Coastal areas. According to my research, the closer you live to a nuclear power plant, the higher the risk of negative health effects such as developing leukemia and other forms of cancer, possibly due to higher levels of ionizing radiation in the vicinity of the nuclear power plants. Methods/Materials Scientific Instruments, Inc. Digital Geiger Counter (model GCA-04W), two 9V Duracell alkaline batteries, one sheet of both, Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil and Xerox printer paper, automobile Odometer (Lexus ES350), log book, pen, camera. Go to the entrance of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), a Pacific coastal area ten kilometers, and Pacific coastal area fifteen kilometers north of SONGS, each 400 meters away from Pacific Ocean. Determine the type of radioactivity that you will be testing. Measure the radiation level for one minute at every 0.2 (two tenths) kilometer intervals (total of 1.4 kilometers). Repeat for 10 trials. Results Analyzing the data suggests no relationship between proximity and radiation levels in the three areas, except for that of the two locations directly underneath the power lines outside of SONGS. In all three areas that were compared for radiation, the levels recorded by the Geiger counter were within the range of background radiation (15-20 micro R/hr). Based on my background research, everywhere on Earth has a level of background radiation of approximately 15-20 micro R/hr, which is composed of minerals containing radioactive elements such as Uranium and Thorium, as well as cosmic radiation. Conclusions/Discussion Although, there is much research that links living in close proximity to a nuclear power plant and the negative impact on health, the data in this investigation suggests that the risk of ionizing radiation exposure due to an individuals proximity to San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) under a normal operating situation is minimal and equivalent to an individuals everyday exposure to background radiation (between 15-20 micro R/hr).

Summary statement

My objective was to investigate whether the levels of ionizing radiation increase with increased proximity to a Nuclear Power Plant.

Help received

My mother rented a Digital Geiger Counter for the project and drove me to the locations for measurement.

Awards (1)

  • Honorable Mention

Competition history

  • CSEF 2012 Environmental Science · Entry J1108

Resources

Related projects

Closest projects by meaning, across every fair and year in the corpus.

Browse more like this

Source: California Science & Engineering Fair public projects

Save projects to your library

Sign in with Google to keep track of projects you find interesting, organized into folders. An account also raises your daily allowance for “Has this been done?”, and lets you create a key for the MCP server with a much higher limit than anonymous use. Browsing stays public.

Continue with Google