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Nuclear Power Argument Essay

567 Words3 Pages

Nuclear energy generation entails the utilization of the process of nuclear fission that results in radioactive materials being released into the environment. At the same time, radioactivity is harmful to both the health and environments. This has led to questions being raised about whether the risks of nuclear power are acceptable for the generation of electricity. This essay explores the pros and cons of nuclear energy by focusing on the health and environmental reasons for both sides of the arguments.
Regarding the pros of the nuclear power, one of the pros associated with nuclear energy concerns its clean nature. When compared to the fossil fuel sources of energy, the amounts of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide or chlorofluorocarbons emitted by nuclear power are …show more content…

The nuclear breeders utilize uranium for producing power. When the chain reaction process takes place in the nuclear energy plants, plutonium that is a dangerous product is released (Mahalingam,2013). The plutonium atoms take thousands of years to decay and in the meantime continue to generate radiation up to the point they become non-radioactive. While eating plutonium-contaminated foods or external exposures have no serious health risks, inhaled plutonium poses critical health risks to people (Miller, 2010). The plutonium is absorbed in a chemical format in the lungs and then distributed to the other parts of the body through the blood, and it can cause cancer. In the same vein, the fuel rods from the nuclear reactors require specific storage facilities to avoid radiation leaks and are a danger to the health of those who work there. Without proper storage, the fuel rods can lead to water and soil pollution (Mahalingam, 2010). Lastly, the nuclear power plants can also accidentally release toxic radioactive raw materials, and because such raw materials are difficult to control, they cause many environmental

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Helen Cadicott Nuclear Power Is Not The Answer Summary

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Nuclear power plants are bad for the environment and for the organisms in and around it because they are so deadly and destructive. In power plants the nuclear reaction of fission is forced, creating an extreme amount of energy and deadly radiation. Nuclear fission is the splitting of a heavy nucleus into two lighter ones, for fission to occur requires extreme heat and pressure. When the nuclear fission occurs it produces electromagnetic radiation in the form of gamma rays, which is the most deadly form of radiation (britannica). Everything within a 50 mile radius will receive an average dose 0.01 millirem per year (nrc.org).

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Nuclear power stations produce a huge amount of energy for the quality of raw fuel used, but dangerous situations arise when this energy isn’t controlled properly. The containment of radioactive waste from spent fuel rods also poses a long-term problem. I will be telling you some facts about Nuclear power. Here are some pros and cons of this energy source. One of the substances they use to create the heat in a reactor is Uranium Fuel.

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Today, there are 440 operating nuclear reactors around the world, plus 65 more under construction, according the World Nuclear Association. With its rising popularity, concerns regarding nuclear power are also rising. The arguments of opponents who perceive nuclear power as “unstable” and “unsafe” seem to be overpowering, but the bright side of nuclear power actually overweighs its dark side. Opponents of nuclear power say: “Nuclear reactors are too dangerous because of the radiation exposure”. According to a study, a majority stated that they think of the word: “disaster” or “bad” when thinking about nuclear power, and try to prevent living or working near a nuclear power reactor due to the radiation exposure.

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