Nuclear Power
Problem: Should Nuclear Power continue to be used or should it be eliminated from the list of alternative power sources?
Positive Aspects of Nuclear Power:
• Cheaper in the long run
• More efficient power production
• Long use of fuel
Negative Aspects of Nuclear Power:
• Possibility of meltdowns
• Need to store Nuclear Waste in secure facility
• High safety concerns with dangerous materials and terrorist threats
Solution to Problem
There are several ways that the issues involving Nuclear Power can be solved. One of the first things that could be done is an increased safety-training schedule for staff. Beyond this, a complex set of natural disaster preventatives can be instituted to limit the impact of disasters. In order to limit the effects outside of the nuclear power plant, citizens in the area would be given safety classes to prepare for any disaster. Many drills are already conducted, but new drills would increase public involvement. Another change could be recycling more nuclear waste to limit the need for waste storage in secure facilities that are filling to capacity. Another option would be building new power plants away from large populations. The last solution we can put into effect is a gradual equalizing of other power generation alternatives so that there are more options if a disaster does occur. Hopefully, if a disaster did occur in the future, the public would be prepared.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
After consulting various sources I have discovered there several main negative factors to nuclear power. First there are always safety concerns surrounding any type of power plant but nuclear power has proved to be the most volatile. After the incident at Chernobyl and the recent tragedy in Japan many are concerned about the possible meltdown factor of a nuclear reactor. After the Chernobyl plant had its meltdown the area surrounding it was evacuated and 30 km. surrounding the reactor was evacuated. In 300 years people may move back to a point up to 10 km. away from the reactor and people may move back into that zone in 24,110 years. The American fear is that as a nation this could happen to us. The bottom line is, the American populace is greatly concerned with the possibility of a failure occurring in the nuclear plant resulting in a major disaster leaving miles of land untouchable and impassable for hundreds even thousands of years.
The other factor surrounding this is radiation from a disaster occurring at the plant and it causing radiation sickness in surrounding communities. This does not solely involve meltdowns it also involves the possibilities of radiations leaks and things of that sort. With these leaks the radiation has a possibility of getting into the ground water and into crops grown around the area as seen in Japan. Although a relatively high dose of radiation is needed to become fatally ill symptoms may still be noticeable if the person is exposed to radiation for a log time because the dose begins to build in the system of the person affected.
Lastly the materials needed in the manufacturing of nuclear power leave nuclear waste when they are depleted.Uranium 235 has many radioactive byproducts, which after all of the energy usable in the fuel rods are depleted become a problem. These byproducts will stay radioactive for thousands of years after they have been used and no one knows where to put them. As of now we are literally burying the problem, we have been digging holes and using caves to store this hazardous waste. This isn’t a very safe method because if the containment vessel ruptures the waste then enters our ecosystem and has been proved to be extremely hazardous to humans as well as wildlife.
These potential hazards of nuclear power are major and cannot be over looked. With the world as it is today and all that is happened recently including natural disasters, mechanical failures and the possibility of a terroristic type attack on a nuclear reactor it is no wonder why the public is concerned with the security and safety of their power supply. In the end is it worth all of this worry and hassle when new, safer and more economically friendly power supplies are readily available.
Radiation sickness - Overview. (n.d.).University of Maryland Medical Center | Home. Retrieved May 26, 2011, from http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/The Pros and Cons of Nuclear Energy. (n.d.). Tripod | Create a Website or Blog with Online Hosting. Retrieved May 26, 2011, from http://members.tripod.com/funk_phenomenon/nuclear/procon.htm
The other factor surrounding this is radiation from a disaster occurring at the plant and it causing radiation sickness in surrounding communities. This does not solely involve meltdowns it also involves the possibilities of radiations leaks and things of that sort. With these leaks the radiation has a possibility of getting into the ground water and into crops grown around the area as seen in Japan. Although a relatively high dose of radiation is needed to become fatally ill symptoms may still be noticeable if the person is exposed to radiation for a log time because the dose begins to build in the system of the person affected.
Lastly the materials needed in the manufacturing of nuclear power leave nuclear waste when they are depleted.Uranium 235 has many radioactive byproducts, which after all of the energy usable in the fuel rods are depleted become a problem. These byproducts will stay radioactive for thousands of years after they have been used and no one knows where to put them. As of now we are literally burying the problem, we have been digging holes and using caves to store this hazardous waste. This isn’t a very safe method because if the containment vessel ruptures the waste then enters our ecosystem and has been proved to be extremely hazardous to humans as well as wildlife.
These potential hazards of nuclear power are major and cannot be over looked. With the world as it is today and all that is happened recently including natural disasters, mechanical failures and the possibility of a terroristic type attack on a nuclear reactor it is no wonder why the public is concerned with the security and safety of their power supply. In the end is it worth all of this worry and hassle when new, safer and more economically friendly power supplies are readily available.
Radiation sickness - Overview. (n.d.).University of Maryland Medical Center | Home. Retrieved May 26, 2011, from http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/The Pros and Cons of Nuclear Energy. (n.d.). Tripod | Create a Website or Blog with Online Hosting. Retrieved May 26, 2011, from http://members.tripod.com/funk_phenomenon/nuclear/procon.htm
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