Nuclear Waste in the New World
Every nation in order to develop its industry and economy must fulfill its growing energy needs, but with the rising oil prices and unstable supplies, it is not a dependable energy resource anymore.
Besides what will happen when all the fossil fuel reserves in the world will be consumed; it is this thought that has forced many developed countries in the world towards other sources of energy.
One such alternative is nuclear power that is an efficient process of producing energy through controlled nuclear reactions.
Many European countries and the US are using nuclear power to meet a major portion of their energy requirements.
Although, it may have many positives as compared to fossil fuel energy production, but a massive concern shown by environmentalists are its potentially hazardous side effects.
All nuclear plants exchange their thermal energy with a body of water or by using cooling towers.
Some nuclear plants discharge nuclear waste into lakes and seas which can be unsafe for marine life living there.
The temperature of the lakes or pond near the discharge of a nuclear plant is seen to be 30 degrees warmer than normal posing a threat to the health of animals and plants.
Apart from nuclear fuel discharge nuclear plants also release radioactive waste a major danger for humans and animals living in the surrounding areas.
It is categorized in three types; low-level waste, medium level waste and high-level waste.
Low-level waste consists of contaminated equipment, tools and clothing which consists of short-lived radioactivity, Intermediate-level waste contains higher level of radioactivity and can also be in the form of nuclear fuel cladding and is required to be disposed off more carefully.
Higher-level, as the name suggests, poses a greater threat as it is produced by nuclear reactors and contains fission products.
Approximately, 12 tons of HLW is produced every year by each nuclear reactor and there is an annual increase in its amount by about 12,000 metric tons which is reminiscent to 100 double-decker buses.
Such life threatening waste needs to be carefully handled and disposed off far away from any human population.
Radioactive waste can be safely buried in deep repositories; some prefer transmutation through which its dangerous elements can be manipulated while disposal of radioactive waste into space is also one consideration.
Undoubtedly with the growing oil crisis nuclear energy has become a requirement for the development of nations but governments worldwide and world environment organizations should make sure that nuclear waste is dealt with.
Besides what will happen when all the fossil fuel reserves in the world will be consumed; it is this thought that has forced many developed countries in the world towards other sources of energy.
One such alternative is nuclear power that is an efficient process of producing energy through controlled nuclear reactions.
Many European countries and the US are using nuclear power to meet a major portion of their energy requirements.
Although, it may have many positives as compared to fossil fuel energy production, but a massive concern shown by environmentalists are its potentially hazardous side effects.
All nuclear plants exchange their thermal energy with a body of water or by using cooling towers.
Some nuclear plants discharge nuclear waste into lakes and seas which can be unsafe for marine life living there.
The temperature of the lakes or pond near the discharge of a nuclear plant is seen to be 30 degrees warmer than normal posing a threat to the health of animals and plants.
Apart from nuclear fuel discharge nuclear plants also release radioactive waste a major danger for humans and animals living in the surrounding areas.
It is categorized in three types; low-level waste, medium level waste and high-level waste.
Low-level waste consists of contaminated equipment, tools and clothing which consists of short-lived radioactivity, Intermediate-level waste contains higher level of radioactivity and can also be in the form of nuclear fuel cladding and is required to be disposed off more carefully.
Higher-level, as the name suggests, poses a greater threat as it is produced by nuclear reactors and contains fission products.
Approximately, 12 tons of HLW is produced every year by each nuclear reactor and there is an annual increase in its amount by about 12,000 metric tons which is reminiscent to 100 double-decker buses.
Such life threatening waste needs to be carefully handled and disposed off far away from any human population.
Radioactive waste can be safely buried in deep repositories; some prefer transmutation through which its dangerous elements can be manipulated while disposal of radioactive waste into space is also one consideration.
Undoubtedly with the growing oil crisis nuclear energy has become a requirement for the development of nations but governments worldwide and world environment organizations should make sure that nuclear waste is dealt with.
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