Possible Consequences Of Nuclear Energy
Abstract
From the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the eighteenth century, the demand for energy has increased exponentially. As a result, the majority of this energy requirement is sufficed by the combustion of inexpensive fossil fuels. The burning of these fuels has led to further global warming, forcing society to seek other forms of clean, high-density energy. While renewable resources such as hydroelectric, solar, and wind energy are worthy substitutes, they are not yet ready to meet the world's energy needs. Nuclear power is an attractive energy source, as it doesn't emit greenhouse gases and can be used on a large scale, producing over 20% of electricity in the United States.1 Although with any energy solution, comes consequences. …show more content…
The 9.0 magnitude earthquake triggered a 15-meter tsunami in Japan.7 The reactors at Fukushima Daiichi proved tolerant to earthquakes, but the tsunami disabled the power supply and cooling function of three reactors, causing them to melt in three days.7 Without emergency generators, the situation led to hydrogen explosions and the forced evacuation of people within twenty miles of the accident. After the disaster, Fukushima was tasked with cooling and preventing the release of radioactive materials through contaminated water and air.7 The Japanese nuclear safety commission estimated that the plant's reactors "released up to 10,000 terabecquerels of radioactive iodine-131 per hour into the air for several hours after they were damaged."4 Unlike Chernobyl, no immediate deaths or radiation sicknesses have been reported from the accident, but the government is still hesitant to allow evacuees to return to the contaminated …show more content…
Radioactive wastes require various types of management dependent upon the amount and type of uranium radioisotopes in them, which are classified as low-level, intermediate-level, and high-level wastes. In turn, the various radioisotopes found in nuclear waste each have a specific half-life, or the time it takes for a radioisotope to lose half of its radioactivity.9
Low-level radioactive waste, which "is not dangerous to handle, but must be disposed of more carefully than normal garbage"9, is sent to land-based disposal after disposed of. The waste contains traces of short-lived radioactivity and is often disposed of in shallow landfills. According to the World Nuclear Association, "worldwide it comprises 90% of the volume but only 1% of the radioactivity of all radioactive
From the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the eighteenth century, the demand for energy has increased exponentially. As a result, the majority of this energy requirement is sufficed by the combustion of inexpensive fossil fuels. The burning of these fuels has led to further global warming, forcing society to seek other forms of clean, high-density energy. While renewable resources such as hydroelectric, solar, and wind energy are worthy substitutes, they are not yet ready to meet the world's energy needs. Nuclear power is an attractive energy source, as it doesn't emit greenhouse gases and can be used on a large scale, producing over 20% of electricity in the United States.1 Although with any energy solution, comes consequences. …show more content…
The 9.0 magnitude earthquake triggered a 15-meter tsunami in Japan.7 The reactors at Fukushima Daiichi proved tolerant to earthquakes, but the tsunami disabled the power supply and cooling function of three reactors, causing them to melt in three days.7 Without emergency generators, the situation led to hydrogen explosions and the forced evacuation of people within twenty miles of the accident. After the disaster, Fukushima was tasked with cooling and preventing the release of radioactive materials through contaminated water and air.7 The Japanese nuclear safety commission estimated that the plant's reactors "released up to 10,000 terabecquerels of radioactive iodine-131 per hour into the air for several hours after they were damaged."4 Unlike Chernobyl, no immediate deaths or radiation sicknesses have been reported from the accident, but the government is still hesitant to allow evacuees to return to the contaminated …show more content…
Radioactive wastes require various types of management dependent upon the amount and type of uranium radioisotopes in them, which are classified as low-level, intermediate-level, and high-level wastes. In turn, the various radioisotopes found in nuclear waste each have a specific half-life, or the time it takes for a radioisotope to lose half of its radioactivity.9
Low-level radioactive waste, which "is not dangerous to handle, but must be disposed of more carefully than normal garbage"9, is sent to land-based disposal after disposed of. The waste contains traces of short-lived radioactivity and is often disposed of in shallow landfills. According to the World Nuclear Association, "worldwide it comprises 90% of the volume but only 1% of the radioactivity of all radioactive