Video: 'Three Mile Island, Nuclear Power Plant Accident: March 28, 1979'

(Wednesday, March 28, 1979, 4:37 a.m. EST) — America’s worst commercial nuclear accident began this morning a partial meltdown inside the Unit 2 reactor at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station (TMI-2) in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, near Harrisburg.

The partial meltdown resulted in the release of radioactive gases and radioactive iodine into the environment.

However, epidemiological studies analyzing the rate of cancer in and around the area since the accident, determined there was a small statistically non-significant increase in the rate and thus no causal connection linking the accident with these cancers has been substantiated.

An investigation strongly cited lapses in quality assurance and maintenance, inadequate operator training, lack of communication of important safety information, poor management and complacency.

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Video: 'Three Mile Island Documentary'