Safety aspects of fusion

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Abstract
The safety aspects of fusion have been attracting increasing attention in the research and development programmes of various countries. The paper summarizes the results of the safety investigations of recent years. The expected inventories of tritium and activation products in fusion reactors are defined. The potential for release of radioactivity under operational and accident conditions is reviewed. Concerns regarding accidents with coolant transients, plasma disruptions and chemical reactions of breeder materials are discussed. The public impact of the expected radioactivity releases of fusion reactors is defined in relation to nuclear fission plant conditions. The total risk to society from fusion energy is compared with the risk from alternative power sources.