In our society, the need for a clean and reliable source of power is in high demand. Nuclear power may be a source of this energy. This energy comes from nuclear fission. Uranium-235 is hit with neutrons and this starts a chain reaction that generates a lot of heat. Water is then converted into steam that is used to spin turbines to generate power. Deadly radiation is produced in this reaction, but it is contained within the plant. According to John Pearson in The risk of Nuclear Power Outweigh the Benefits, “There are many threats presented by nuclear power that would be compounded by any expansion of existing nuclear programs.” (Pearson) He takes this position because nuclear power is an accident that is waiting to happen, there …show more content…
Should the generating of this power be a concern for public safety? Both authors believe that there are some risks presented by nuclear power. The reason for this is because of the radiation that the plant produces when generating power. With 440 nuclear plants around the world producing sixteen percent of the world’s power consumption; they are still 52 times safer then power created from oil. (Goodwin) “…baby teeth in the US in 2003 showed that all US children now carry strontuim-90” (Pearson) This strontium-90 is a radiative element that is created from nuclear fission.
In 1986, the nuclear power plant in Chernobyl, Russia caught fire and sent out lots of radiation. Goodwin adds, “The crudely designed plant caught fire and released significant radiation.” (Goodwin) Chernobyl sent firefighters to the scene with no protection from the radiation that killed most of them. Chernobyl was not prepared or ready for an accident like this to occur.