Charting the Human Cost of Different Types of Energy

EMJ · Post by **EMJ** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:48 am

... numbers represent deaths in the developed world from severe accidents only, where at least five people were killed. The accidents have occurred at many stages of the energy supply chain, from coal mining to shipping oil to accidents at actual power plants.
It’s important to note that every-day energy use from fossil fuels kills far more people than accidents. By one estimate from 2000, pollution from power plants results in at least 30,000 premature deaths every year [6] in the United States alone.
http://www.propublica.org/blog/item/cha ... -of-energy

Surio · Post by **Surio** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 5:34 am

The article may have a point. I was reminded of the Tennessee ash spill when I looked at that infographic.
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halcyon · Post by **halcyon** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:43 pm

I think that's a fascinating view on energy. It's interesting to note that the energy sources with the least total deaths would actually be the most catastrophic if something did happen... How long should we press our luck?

George the original one · Fri Mar 25, 2011 5:37 pm

Nice charts except... they aren't weighted for amount of energy, so deaths/kW-HR is unknown.

JohnnyH · Post by **JohnnyH** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 5:49 pm

nm... already mentioned