The fear of radioactivity kills more than radioactivity

It comes down to money. Not even talking about “corner cutting” on design or maintenance or staffing by builders, operators, or contractors- we COULD design hardened, remote, possibly even subterranean nuclear plants to contain the contamination. We could spend decades selecting optimal sites and designing, then decades building a proper environment for containment should catastrophe strike. Most safety guidelines such as “OSHA” “EPA” etc are designed to balance safety with productivity and cost. It’s plain simple. It is routine for example to spec PPE that is frankly not suitable for the task but provides a “reasonable” protection based on cost and hassle of using and providing equipment.

But cost is a HUGE factor. Dirty is cheap. People raise concerns with nuclear power like what to do with the waste... but don’t bat an eye at the batteries that power things like electric cars. Radioactive waste may be dangerous for eons- but heavy metals never stop being dangerous. So perception plays a huge role too. We don’t know what to do with battery waste either- but we charge ahead (no pun intended) because we perceive it as safe or “clean.” Today’s choices shape the environmental crisis of the future.