The controversial energy source Nuclear power has been widely debated through the media and environmentally friendly protest groups. Nuclear power comes through the atomic nuclei, it is extracted through nuclear reactions within the speacalised field of nuclear technology. Currently the only method of acquiring nuclear power is through nuclear fission however other areas are being explored by scientists such as radioactive decay.
The nuclear power is used to generate heat and nuclear energy, which is then transformed to generate nuclear electricity which is regarded as the main advantages of nuclear power. Nuclear power plants are most commonly found in electric generators and nuclear submarines.
Starting with the benefits the most relevant one in todays society is the advantage of nuclear power and its minimal affect on polluting the atmosphere. It does not emiss any carbon, sulfur or nitrogen dioxide and is seen as the cleanest way to produce energy. This is highly preferred to the toxic burning or fossil fuel which is one of the main causes of todays pollution.
In comparison to the waste of fossil fuel, nuclear waste which occurs through the production process of nuclear power is extremely small and confined so does not cause any affect to its surroundings. Scientific studies have shown that a family of 5 could use nuclear power for a lifetime for all their daily needs and the waste produced would be smaller than a golf ball.
The nuclear waste produced upon generation of power is desposed of by taking it to a geological site where it is left to decay, this is done over a period of time and as it has no affect on its surroundings it has no affect on the eco system. Chemical waste such mercury and arsenic do not compose and poisonous gases cause acid rain and more concerninly gobal warming.
There have been two very serious accidents with nucleur power, in Pennsylvania and Chernobyl. This is minimal in comparison to the accidents which are reguary reported in the fossil fuel industries and coal mines which are known to collape and erupt.
The source of nuclear power is uranium and this is available in the crust of the Earth with major sites being uncovered in Canada and Australia. As the source of nuclear power is continuously available now and also for centuries to come, this form of power is literally inexhaustable.
Taking a look at the negative side of nuclear energy, it seems to be a main concern and how it could affect a persons health is still not really know.
The main concern associated with nuclear power is the fear of radiation and this can only be overcome by educating the people about radiation and its side affects. People would be surprised to know that radiation has been a part of our environment ever since its existence and that radiation in moderate amounts can even be advantageous to our health. Radiation does not need to be a negative and can be channeled conveniently to serve mankind and the universe in a positive way.
One of the fundamental problems of nuclear power is the hazard posed by the radioactive materials it produces some of which can be used in nuclear weapons and all of which can be used in so-called dirty bombs. Just one particle of plutonium can be fatal.
Nuclear waste is taken from wherever it is produced, across the country, to Sellafield in Cumbria for reprocessing. During reprocessing, plutonium is separated from other wastes for supposed re-use in nuclear reactors. In reality none of this plutonium is reused for electricity generation. The UK now has a stockpile of over a hundred tonnes of deadly plutonium - and no real idea what to do with it.
The UK now has enough radioactive waste to fill the Royal Albert Hall five times over. There’s still no safe way to deal with it. The government plans to bury it deep underground - out of sight and out of mind. But no one can guarantee that this highly radioactive waste won't leak back into the environment, contaminating water supplies and the food chain.
Aside from the potential risk of a terrorist attact directly onto a nuclear power station, the nuclear industry transports thousands of tonnes of radioactive waste around the UK by road, rail and sea. Every week, communities up and down the country are put at risk from potential radioactive contamination as these trains steam through cities, towns and villages. There are no police or security on board and there are no local saftey measures in place to deal with an emergency. If a nuclear waste train was involved in a terrorist attack, thousands of people could be exposed to cancer causing radiation .
It has been Over twenty years since the world’s worst nuclear disaster, Chernobyl. the human and environmental consequences are still being suffered internationally. Nuclear power is seen as extremely dangerous despite claims of improvements in safety. Scientists agree that another catastrophe on the scale of Chernobyl could still happen at any time.
In conclusion, as with most thing in life-nuclear power comes with the 'good and the bad'.
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