On 28 March, a nuclear reactor on Three Mile Island (Middleton, PA) suffered a near ‘meltdown’. More precisely, a series of equipment malfunctions and human errors prevented coolant from reaching the core and in turn allowed partial exposure of the nuclear core. According to authorities, only a small (negligible) amount of radioactive gases was released into the atmosphere. Thus, the health of the American population was not put in significant danger. Nevertheless, the accident at Three Mile Island led to major changes in the American nuclear power industry. Seven nuclear reactors were immediately closed until a thorough review of safety protocols was undertaken. All seven reactors were subsequently reopened. A moratorium was …
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Citation: Richert, Lucas Paul. "Nuclear leak at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 October 2008 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=3691, accessed 26 November 2024.]