This correspondence critiques the narrative that nuclear power is a safe, clean, and affordable energy source, examining health and economic risks across the full nuclear fuel cycle — from uranium mining through reactor operation, waste generation, and decommissioning.
Nuclear power releases 66 g CO₂-equivalent per kWh (more than renewables), its levelised cost has risen 47% since 2009, the most recent US reactor cost >$35 billion (2× budget), and ~115,000 US cancer deaths since 2000 are attributed to residence near nuclear plants; meanwhile solar costs dropped 90%, wind 70%, and batteries 99% since 2010.
This is an opinion correspondence, not an original study; claims rely on cited secondary sources without new data collection or systematic review methodology. Competing interests include grants from multiple foundations for the lead author.
Clinicians and public health advocates should recognize that health risks from nuclear power extend well beyond reactor accidents — encompassing cancer risks from uranium mining, fuel production, and plant proximity. Investing in renewables avoids these hazards while offering lower cost.
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