Nuclear Power: A Radioactive Waste of Time Essay

For galore(postnominal) years now, technology has strived to discover alternative thrust sources that are cheap, in effect(p) and not insidious to the environment. atomic causation is wizard of the alternative brawniness sources that technology has discovered. There are many views on whether or not it meets the aforementi hotshotd criteria, but the major concern when it comes to atomic part is the galosh issue. Is nuclear role safe? There is sufficient evidence to climb that it is very unsafe, including past nuclear power related catastrophes, the by-product of nuclear power, and the fact that nuclear power founds are a vulnerable bespeak for terrorists.Firstly, the amount at risk when it comes to nuclear power is overwhelming, fortuityal meltdowns boast the ability to serve instant death to many people, and have a life time effect on many to a greater extent. On April 26th, 1986, an accident happened at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine, and it caused a meltd own in the reactor. The results were catastrophic the meltdown released more radioactivity than the atomic bombs that dropped on Hiroshima and Na wasteaki. During the disaster, 56 people died and about 600,000 people were exposed to high levels of radiation. The radiation air to places as far as Scotland. _Refer to figure 1._There are arguments that the Chernobyl meltdown was a result of old technology and mismanagement. Yet, since Chernobyl, according to the US atomic Regulatory Commission in that location have been unspoiledly 200 near misses in the US in which the raise rods at the core of reactor came close to melting down. Nuclear power gambles with our lives, our health and the environment, an accident at work for someone can end the life of many.The nuclear crazy that comes with nuclear energy is a major concern for the environment. On average, a uranium ore contains tho 0.1% uranium. The majority of the materials extracted during uranium ore mining is uncivilized co ntaining early(a) hazardous radioactive and toxic substances. Most nuclearreactors require one specific form of uranium, uranium-235 (U-235). This form represents only 0.7% of natural uranium. To increase the slow-wittedness of U-235, the uranium extracted from ore goes through an enrichment process, resulting in a bitty quantity of utile enriched uranium and huge volumes of dissolution. Enriched uranium is then put into kindle rods and transported to nuclear reactors where electricity is generated. Nuclear power plant operation transforms uranium fuel into a rich, highly-toxic and dangerous mixture of radioactive elements, such as plutonium. plutonium is the manmade element used in nuclear bombs, only a small amount is needed to bring about a devastating impression this deadly mixture remains dangerous for about 240,000 years. Furthermore, the radioactive boast produced emits extended amounts of hazardous radiation. Even a couple of minutes of characterisation to high-le vel waste can easily result in bootleg doses of radiation. Radioactive waste on that pointfore needs to be reliably stored for 240,000 years, one should take into account that humans have been on earth for only 200,000 yearsAn separate bother is that there is no reliable mite to store away this waste for such a long utmost of time. Reprocessing of nuclear waste was supposed to be a solution to the task however, the reprocessing plants use a process that actually leads to more hazardous waste flows. Not only is there the long term radioactive waste to worry about, but also the depleted uranium (DU). Currently there is about 1.2 million tonnes of depleted uranium stored without any foreseen use in the future. _Refer to figure 2._The American and British government activitys used DU as armour for tanks and groovy tips for munitions in the Gulf War, veterans of this war have had health jobs due to their motion-picture show to DU. Even their children have suffered from their ex posure to DU. hence the process that it takes to produce nuclear power and all the waste that comes as a by-product is a massive and dangerous waste of time. The radioactive waste can be harmful to our health and our environment, and without a safe and reliable storage system we should realize the more nuclear power we process the larger the problem of nuclear waste.The nuclear industry may argue that nuclear power is the solution to international warming and the climate crisis by promoting nuclear power as a low vitamin Csolution. Todays field is hooked on coal, oil and gas burning these fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming and climate change. Furthermore, oil and gas are finite, so a long term solution to the problem is desperately needed. However, nuclear power is not the answer, as nuclear power can only provide electricity it cannot meet our transport or heating energy needs. Nuclear power generates around 15% of the lands electricity, bu t only 6.5% of the worlds total energy supply. _Refer to figure 3._Additionally, according to the Energy Scenario by the International Energy Agency, even off if existing world nuclear power capacity could be quadrupled by 2050, its share of world energy consumption would still be at a lower place 10%. This would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by less than 4%. Hence nuclear power clearly isnt a solution to global warming.Nuclear power increases the risk of nuclear weapons potential of spreading to other countries, of terrorists gaining material to make nuclear bombs and of potential terrorist approach paths on nuclear facilities or transports. nuclear reactors have not been create to withstand the impact of a large aircraft nuclear waste transports are even more vulnerable to terrorists. A teach by Dr. Edwin Lyman of the Union of Concerned Scientists finds that a potential terrorist attack on the Indian Point nuclear plant in the US could lead to 518,000 long-term deaths from cancer and as many as 44,000 near-term deaths from incisive radiation poisoning. These numbers are from a potential terrorist attack on one plant, over half a million people bequeath be killed because of nuclear power.It is blatant that nuclear power is unsafe, even if a reactor core doesnt meltdown accidentally a terrorist could cause the same results that a regular meltdown would. Not to mention the dumb market that has developed to nuclear materials. A typical power plant produces enough plutonium annually for 10-15 crude nuclear bombs. Experiments conducted by the government of the United States have shown that several nuclear weapons can be built in a matter of weeks using ordinary spent fuel from light water reactors (the most common type of reactors). Another study by the US government revealed that a country with only a minimal industrial base could secretly and quickly construct a small plant just 40 metres long, capable ofextracting about a bombs worth of plutonium ever y day. Hence nuclear power is unsafe and can lead to massive destruction at the hands of terrorists.In conclusion, nuclear power is an unsafe for many reasons. Firstly, there have been nuclear meltdowns in the past which yielded devastating results, and many more close calls. Secondly, there is no solution for radioactive waste which is harmful to us and our environment. Also, nuclear power doesnt help our environment through its low carbon solution. Lastly, nuclear power plants are vulnerable to terrorist attacks, which puts the galosh of many at risk. Hence, nuclear power is unsafeWorks CitedGreenpeace International. (2009). Nuclear power. Retrieved January 6, 2011, from http//www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/international/press/reports/nuclear-power.pdfSterner, B. W. ABC Says Nuclear Reactor Unsafe The Tech. The Tech MITs Oldest and Largest Newspaper. Retrieved January 6, 2011, from http//tech.mit.edu/V125/N46/nukesafety.htmlNuclear Energy. Educational Web Sites. Retrieved Janua ry 6, 2011, from http//www.phy6.org/ woolgather/Snuclear.htmPhysicsworld. Do we need nuclear power? Retrieved January 6, 2011, from http//www.physicsworld.com/cws/article/print/128Pros and cons of nuclear power Time for change. Retrieved January 6, 2011, from http//timeforchange.org/pros-and-cons-of-nuclear-power-and-sustainabilityThis contamination will have an effect on several generations to come.FIGURE 1FIGURE 2The process in which nuclear power is generated, steps 1-5.FIGURE 3Nuclear powerfulness only generates electricity, hence why it cant be a solution to climate change.