TARGET AUDIENCE This book is written for anyone who is interested in understanding one of the more pressing problems of our current times: the management of radioactivity and the public perception of its danger. Without getting into the mathematical physics, Dr. Wiles lucidly explains the nature of radioactivity, the many uses of radiation, and the management of nuclear risks, including both the disposal of nuclear waste and the operation of nuclear power reactors. This book makes a valuable addition to the library of any interested citizen, and is especially well suited for teachers and students in environmental science, environmental engineering and environmental geography. While it touches on questions of nuclear chemistry, the book presumes no prior knowledge of the subject; it is highly accessible and intended for the layperson. SUBJECT MATTER Following a description of the structure of the atomic nucleus, the author describes the several kinds of nuclear instability and their consequences: alpha, beta and gamma emission. He then outlines the actions of these types of radiation and their biological effects, andexplains the uses of radiation and radioactivity in engineering, science and medicine. Next, he describes nuclear fission and how nuclear reactors produce nuclear power, and finally, he discusses nuclear fuel waste, with detailed descriptions of its disposal chemistry. A chapter on the various nuclear accidents that have occurred in the past leads into a thought-provoking section on whether or not we have learned enough to be sure that we are safe today.