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Ecological Hazards of Nuclear Energy

Nuclear reactions produce a large amount of heat and radiation as part of the electricity-producing process. Both of these byproducts, especially radiation, is extremely toxic and potentially fatal to most living organisms in high enough doses.

  1. Construction

    • The construction of a nuclear power plant will do drastic damage to an ecological environment. Entire habitats will need to be cleared, as well as access roads, auxiliary structures and storage areas will need to be built. Roads built through existing ecosystems can isolate them and have detrimental effects to plant and animal life on both sides.

    Nuclear Waste

    • The byproduct of the nuclear reactor core is highly radioactive toxic waste. This nuclear waste remains at fatal levels, meaning a 50 percent chance of death following exposure, up to 600 years after its use. Seepage in groundwater or other ecosystems could have destructive effects for hundreds of years.

    Accidents

    • Accidents at the plant or natural disasters can damage the plant's structural and containment abilities, which, depending on how bad the accident, can release potentially large amounts of radiation into an ecosystem. This can cause death and a decrease in biodiversity, as well as make the surrounding area uninhabitable for years to come.

    Excess Heat

    • Nuclear power plants need massive amounts of water to keep their reactors at manageable temperatures. The byproduct of this is an excess of heat and steam released into an ecosystem. This can disrupt organisms' life cycles, especially the growth cycles of larvae and fish. Disruption at this most basic level can then lead to diminishing results up the food chain of an ecosystem as well.

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