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Risks of Nuclear Energy

Nuclear energy is released from a nuclear reaction and is used as a source of power. The energy creates heat through the fission in atoms and takes place when the nucleus of the atom is split in two. Nuclear power plants use nuclear fission reactions to produce steam, which creates electricity for homes and businesses. While there are plenty of risks associated with nuclear energy, it doesn't produce air pollution, like burning fossil fuels, and because of the abundance of plutonium and uranium in the U.S., it is a form of energy independence.

  1. Radiation

    • Radiation is a process where energetic particles travel through space and may cause adverse health effects. These particles are able to penetrate into the human body and damage biological cells, which may cause cancer. Once the radiation is in the body, the contamination can spread until the source of the radiation is removed. While low doses of radiation occur naturally, high doses are often emitted during disasters at nuclear power plants and accidents in the transportation of nuclear materials.

    Radioactive Waste

    • Radioactive waste is a radioactive material that is generally produced by the nuclear power industry and can be harmful to humans and the environment. The waste must be kept isolated for a certain period of time until it is no longer hazardous. Low-level waste often comes from hospitals and colleges and is buried 20 feet below the ground. High-level waste comes from the fuel used in a nuclear reactor and is highly radioactive. This material needs to be stored in special facilities and disposed of in a special site where it must remain for thousands of years.

    Nuclear Weapons

    • Nuclear weapons create destruction through the use of nuclear reactions. These weapons produce a large explosion that can devastate an entire city or region. The weapons contain plutonium and uranium, and the combination of fusion and fission in the elements produce small amounts of matter. The weapons have only been used twice during the end of World War II, causing massive devastation in Japan. While thousands of bombs have been tested in the following decades, they have not been used in warfare since.

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