Nuclear Power Do Not Outweigh

¶ … Nuclear Power do not Outweigh the Risks Posed by Nuclear Waste

For decades, the quest for an energy source that is inexpensive and safe to both humans and the environment has been a significant concern. With the development of nuclear power, society had thought that they had found the Holy Grail for energy, with the abundant availability of fissile material such as Uranium-235. Once one considers the dangers, in the end, the benefits of nuclear power do not outweigh the risks posed.

The primary benefit touted of nuclear power, in addition to the relative cost effectiveness and a reduced dependence on fossil fuels, is its supposedly environmentally friendly nature. Lipper and Stone note that pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and dust are not released during the creation of energy via nuclear power. However, the process of uranium enrichment for fuel releases huge quantities of carbon dioxide, including the gases released during decommissioning and the transport of nuclear waste. Additionally, the enrichment of uranium is responsible for more than 90% of the chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) 114 gas released into our air. CFCs are 10,000 to 20,000 times more potent as a global warmer than carbon dioxide (Hays).

With the release of CFC gases, clearly, the primary benefit of nuclear power is in question. Now, couple this loss of a significant benefit with the dangers of nuclear energy production, including nuclear accidents such as was experienced at Chernobyl, and the risks far outweigh what little benefits are left.

Perhaps one of the greatest risks is through the presence of nuclear waste.

The radioactive waste that is created during the creation of nuclear power is dangerous for thousands of years. Although measures have been taken to safely store this hazardous material, especially during the first millennium when it is most hazardous, problems have still been had.

Groundwater entering burial sites and the subsequent corrosion of waste canisters has led to the leakage of radioactive waste and provides a possible opportunity for this hazardous material to work its way to the surface environment ("Nuclear Reactor").