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The Pros And Cons Of Nuclear Power Production

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As the world’s resources are consumed rapidly, energy companies look towards alternative forms of energy production. One form of controversial energy source that has been used for many years is nuclear energy. Canadians are one of the top ten countries in electricity consumption per year. We adopt lifestyles that are difficult to sustain, due to our energy inefficient devices and consumption habits. Nuclear energy is constantly promoted to be safe and economically beneficial, however, due to a negative public perception of nuclear energy and its anthropogenic risks, the development of nuclear power plants is difficult. Analysis of the risks and benefits of nuclear power production is necessary in determining the reliability and safety of the …show more content…

Radioactive material can result in burns, toxicity, increased rates of cancer, decay of the bones and diseases of the blood. Radioactivity is tasteless and odorless and encourages the change of electrical charges in the body. If exposed to enough radiation it allows cells to freely convert into cancer cells. Humans have the ability to handle a specific amount of radioactivity before deemed dangerous. A nuclear reactor releases a small amount of radioactive particles into the atmosphere during normal function. The radioactive waste that is left over from the nuclear reactor mainly comprises of workers ' clothing, tools and other clothing articles that have come in contact with the radioactive dust produced in the production process. Production involves nuclear rods and the uranium used as fuel. The uranium that is used as a fuel source also turns into a waste product after fission. The used rods and uranium pellets are highly radioactive and cannot be placed in a landfill like most waste. The radioactive material is first cooled due to its extreme heat before mixing it with glass and placed in specialized containers and put underground or above depending on the nuclear plant standards. Nuclear waste must be monitored and regulated due to its volatile behaviour, which incurs large costs. The resources to develop a functioning nuclear power plant are presently available to us, however they are an expensive investment. It is very difficult for developing countries to be able to make the plants as they take upwards of 5-10 years to build in addition to the legal formalities that must be

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