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Not true. As Japan pulled back from nuclear due to fears stemming from Fukushima accident, they increased coal reliance which has a direct impact on health of thousands of people.

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What does that have to do with radiation?

It's an indirect effect, described slyly.

Might not be what they meant, but under normal operations a coal plant can release significantly more radiation into the environment than a nuclear plant, via isotopes in the ash [1][3]. It’s still less than normal medical sources but it is much higher than a normal nuclear plant where radiological releases of any kind are actively watched for. (The source of the coal will determine the isotopes involved and the initial amount. [2])

This article [3] from Oak Ridge National Laboratory REVIEW (1993 I believe, so a bit dated) states "The population effective dose equivalent from coal plants is 100 times that from nuclear plants"

[1]( https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coal-ash-is-more-...) [2]( https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/1997/fs163-97/FS-163-97.html) PDF Warning: [3]( https://www.ornl.gov/sites/default/files/ORNL%20Review%20v26...)

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