Radioactive Waste Vs Nuclear Waste

The general attitude by the public towards nuclear reactors is that of fear or disapproval simply due to its name or the rumors. Nuclear reactors are merely devices that sustain chain reactions, in which only one of the emitted neutrons hits another nucleus to create fission. Though nuclear reactors cannot become a weapon or a bomb, some of the dangers relate to our lives to the extent that we may need to seek alternatives, as demonstrated by the reactors in Three Mile Island and Chernobyl.

The video, 60 Minutes – Electronic Wasteland, produced by Solly Granatstein, show us the cruel reality of the environmental consequences of human activities and life style and how the emissions from these recycling practices are damaging human health and the environment. Electronic waste (E-waste) contains toxic components like Lead, Mercury, Chromium, Cadmium, Polyvinyl Chloride, that affects the overall wellness of the human body and the ecosystem that is exposed. Some of the health effects of these toxins on the human body include brain damage, kidney disease, mutations, different types of cancers, birth defects, reproductive system damage, and much more.

In addition, nuclear power plant only emits hot water into the environment which makes it environmental friendly. In fact, little or almost no carbon dioxide is being released into the atmosphere. The little amount of carbon dioxide is produced because of the mining and construction of the power plant, however the amount released is not comparable to that of other fossil fuel.

The global energy demand is increasing as years go by as there is a rapid growth of population in deed of power. Due to the high demand for energy, many people are opting to replace other forms of energy with nuclear power because of its safety, reliability, and sustainability. In addition, it is one of the cleanest carbon free sources of energy available in the world today. Nuclear power is the use of continuous nuclear fission to produce electricity and heat. However, there are a number of controversies over the use of nuclear energy with some supporting its use while others opposing the use of nuclear energy. Despite the controversy on whether to use nuclear energy as an alternative, nuclear power has proved to be safe, reliable, clean, and inexpensive. Therefore, Nuclear energy should replace other forms of power around the globe because it is more environmentally friendly, cost effective, and safe for use and to exist with human beings compared to other forms of energy being used today.

In “Nuclear Waste” by Richard A. Muller, he expresses his concerns about radioactive material in Yucca Mountain that will be left behind for thousands of years and the unfamiliar dangers that we face. He starts by stating that nuclear waste is one of the biggest issues that our government faces even though they highly follow their “safe” nuclear waste disposal. He stresses how the government prototype nuclear waste facility at Yucca Mountain is supposed to be so safe, but they built it on a site that was created by volcanic activity. Scientist have contemplated many different ways to dispose of nuclear waste, but they all seem like the worse than their previous ideas and some still are considering more nuclear power. After his intense evaluation

Nuclear energy may be the solution that eliminates our concern for energy production in the future, but it still remains a huge issue for the environment. Despite its wide use in many developed countries, nuclear energy poses many threats to both the

Nuclear waste should be stored at Yucca Mountain. There are many positive reasons of why the waste should be stored on Yucca Mountain, such as the fact that no one lives on Yucca Mountain. There has not been an recent earthquake on the mountain. There is also the fact that it does not rain a lot on the mountain. So this is why nuclear waste should be stored on Yucca Mountain.

Many countries independently have a sufficient amount of nuclear bombs and missiles to end the entire human race on planet earth. The cold war began the race for countries to have large nuclear arsenals that has been going non stop. Nuclear weapons are largely for show, the only nuclear weapons ever used in combat were dropped on hiroshima and nagasaki, which was 71 years ago (Mian). Countries should not have nuclear weapons

By using NM, doctors have higher chances of early detection of diseases and heath conditions which increase the percentage of healing (5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Medicine, 2016).

I wholeheartedly believe that Nuclear Energy will play an inevitably central role as a reliable energy source in Australia’s future. Australia must invest in Nuclear energy because coal and oil are becoming scarce, requires less fuel and is eco-friendly. Australia is blessed with the world’s largest known uranium resources (a bountiful 38% according to Professor Mary O’Kane NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer). ANSTO (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation) reports: ‘No country of Australia’s economic size or larger is without nuclear power’. Time for Australia to get investing!

Richard A. Muller a professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley, expresses his concerns on the subject of nuclear waste. In his essay, Nuclear Waste, he writes about where the United States stores its nuclear waste, alternative ways to dispose of the waste and whether it would be effective. He also talks about how dangerous the nuclear by-product is, and other dangers regarding civilian’s safety. He effectively explains his concerns through pathos, logos, ethos, and other uses of examples to help readers understand his concerns. He attracts readers by talking about the future generation and their safety against potential nuclear waste contamination.

Nuclear weapons have only been used practically twice in history, which occurred in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. From the nuclear weapons being executed on the two Japanese cities, over 210,000 casualties were reported. If nuclear weapons were ever used in modern day, the result would be globally catastrophic. As contemporary nukes are more powerful and have bigger abilities, their effects could put billions at risk of famine and death. Nuclear energy can completely disrupt agricultures and environments. If the environment was exposed to even a relatively small nuclear weapon, studies show that devastating effects would take place against the world’s climate and decade long lasting effects on the ecosystems of the Earth. A small perception that can be used to see the effects of nuclear energy being exposed to the environment is the Chernobyl Disaster of 1986. To this day, there are still no inhabitants of the exposed areas inside Chernobyl, Ukraine, as those exposed can experience heavy vulnerabilities to cancer, diseases, and death. Just from the small accident in Chernobyl, there are still modern effects of the disaster. Things like birth defects, sights of mutated organisms, and sicknesses are still reported as a result from the mass leak of radiation. Having these effects on a regional, national, or

Americans possess the tendency to only address immediate threats to their well being, while delaying handling future issues. This mindset ensures today for Americans; however, it jeopardizes the outlook of their tomorrow.

“The use of the atomic bomb, with its indiscriminate killing of women and children, revolts my soul.”-Herbert Hoover. The effects of the atomic bombs were catastrophic in Japan and they impact many of their lives still today. The atomic bomb droppings in Japan have caused many mental, physical, and genetic disorders, as well as leaving many children orphaned, and causing fear that should not have had to been a part of Japanese citizens everyday lives.

One cannot deny that some nuclear waste is produced and that it is radioactive. However, according to the World Nuclear Association in many countries, nuclear waste accounts for just 1% of all toxic wastes. This means that only a small amount of waste is produced and it would be easy to contain. Furthermore, the BBC states that you are able to reprocess nuclear waste and reuse up to 97% of it. This means that waste can be reduced even further and that that supplies of Uranium can be sustained for longer. In summary, only a small amount of waste is produced and it can be reduced even