Societal Aspects of Nuclear Technology Essay

The world is rapidly advancing as the global population keeps rising, and economic activities needed to sustain people continue increasing. This situation has led to an increased demand for reliable energy to power the operations of companies and individuals, especially in the industrialized countries. The demand for energy comes against the backdrop of a raging international debate over the issue of greenhouse gas emissions caused by the overreliance on fossil fuels. The argument has led scientists to engage in constant research to come up with a source of energy that is environmentally sustainable. Nuclear technology has been proposed as a leading source of clean energy to power the future. In fact, it was one of the mitigation methods against greenhouse gas emissions recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Pearce 1174). Proponents see it as the future of sustainable clean energy since solar and wind are not yet fully developed for large-scale applications. Nuclear power has numerous benefits, but we need to pay more attention to its harmful effects on the environment.

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Radioactive waste is one of the core by-products of the process of creating nuclear energy despite although proponents view it as a clean energy source ("Nuclear Power And The Environment"). The uranium mill tailings are left off after the metal is extracted from the ore, as well as spent reactor fuel and other toxic metals. These remains are highly radioactive, and the standard practice is to bury them in deep pits, where they cannot affect human lives. However, the half-life of these elements could be thousands of years, and this poses a grave risk to the health of individuals and animals. Radioactive waste has been defined as carcinogenic by several schools of thought. Going by the National Council on Radiation Protection, increased exposure to radiation leads to a higher risk of cancer (LaForge). The continuous radiation from the buried materials is hence an environmental hazard that will later increase the cost of healthcare. The threat of radiation does not emanate from the buried waste alone since the reactors pose a grave danger. Terrorist activities or accidents could lead to catastrophic results as the radiation levels can get extremely high. In 2011, Japan was hit by a tsunami that led to an accident at the Fukushima nuclear plant. The reactors were destroyed and radioactive isotopes released into the environment. The outcome affected birds via reduced longevity, diminished fertility, and other mutations that indicated genetic damage. University of South Carolina professor of biological sciences Timothy Mousseau said that it was quite a surprise to see the severe impacts so soon while studying the Fukushima aftermath (Little). Food and water supplies are also exposed to contamination. To date, even the developed countries like Britain and America are yet to find a foolproof way of disposing of nuclear waste due to its long half-life spanning tens of thousands of years. The fatal risk of radiation makes it a very fragile undertaking (Little).

The often-repeated claim of zero emissions is also not entirely accurate since the entire process from mining to production of energy is not considered. All reactors emit a certain percentage of Carbon 14, which is a radioactive isotope (Wasserman). The fuel that burns in the reactors is also carbon-intensive. Other processes like mining, milling, and enrichment needed for the production of pellets that fill the reactor fuel rods involve a massive expenditure of energy. Nearly all of the sources used are gas, coal, or oil hence the production of nuclear power still leads to emissions of greenhouse gases, albeit at a low percentage. Finally, only one-third of the energy from nuclear reactors is converted to electricity while two-thirds is released to the surroundings. Nuclear plants, therefore, contribute significantly towards warming the atmosphere (Wasserman).

Production of nuclear power is dependent on the uranium ore. Mining uranium is a process that leaves the surface with deep pits due to the massive amount of material that is extracted. This excavation leads to the destruction of waterways as well as the underground ecosystem (Pearce 1177). Insects, invertebrates, fungi, mammals, and other organisms will be affected by major excavations. Our survival depends on a delicate balance of all natural elements, and hence the destruction of any biodiversity is a significant cause for concern. Most nuclear plants are constructed near lakes, oceans, and rivers due to the availability of massive volumes of water needed for cooling the equipment. A nuclear power reactor with a capacity of 1 GW will require about 476,500 gallons every minute to cool the machinery (Pearce 1177). This massive amount of water is discharged back into the water bodies at 20 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the surrounding environment (Wasserman). It is a case of thermal pollution since the increased water temperature will kill some microorganisms and fish species. The Union of Concerned Scientists opines that the warmer warm water has a lower oxygen concentration than the cold (Wasserman). Discharges from a once-through cooling system will thus affect the metabolism of fish by creating a temperature squeeze. The intake pipes at the nuclear plants often suck in eggs, larvae, and planktons while trapping larger fish against the pipes and protective screens.

Conclusion

Nuclear energy has many positives such as significantly low emissions of carbon-dioxide and the ability to produce high amounts of energy. However, the focus should shift from all these obvious advantages to the often-ignored shortcomings, especially on the environment. Nuclear power poses the threat of radiation, which affects human, animal, and plant health adversely. The process of producing nuclear energy also spends a considerable amount of fossil fuels which, coupled with the emission of heat energy, intensifies global warming in the atmosphere. Discharging hot water back to rivers and lakes affects aquatic ecosystems in the long run. The benefits of nuclear energy are tangible, but it comes at a heavy toll on the environment.

Works Cited

LaForge, John. Radiation Is A Carcinogen: Any Exposure Can Cause Cancer. Truthout, 20 June. 2012, www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/9901-radiation-is-a-carcinogen-any-exposure-can-cause-cancer. Accessed 8 Mar 2018.

Little, Jane B. How Has Fukushima's Nuclear Disaster Affected The Environment? Audubon, 9 March. 2012, www.audubon.org/news/how-has-fukushimas-nuclear-disaster-affected-environment. Accessed 8 Mar 2018.

"Nuclear Power and The Environment." Eia.Gov, 2017, www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=nuclear_environment. Accessed 8 Mar 2018.

Pearce, Joshua M. "Limitations of Nuclear Power as a Sustainable Energy Source." Sustainability, vol 4, no. 12, 2012, pp. 1173-1187. MDPI AG, doi: 10.3390/su4061173.

Wasserman, Harvey. How Nuclear Power Causes Global Warming. Progressive.Org, 21 September. 2016, progressive.org/dispatches/nuclear-power-causes-global-warming/. Accessed 8 Mar 2018.