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Nuclear Power And Its Effects

Good Essays

As populations continue to grow and prosper, the need for power and resources continues to rise. There are many ways for people to gain the amount of power they need; however, none of the processes are as efficient as nuclear power. Nuclear power produces enough energy for millions of people. Being said, if nuclear power and the energy it produces is so great, what are the problems or issues that are associated with nuclear power? There are a lot of issues, more than anyone would expect. “Animals are affected by the operation of nuclear power - but are the most ignored of all the nuclear industry 's victims. Whether sucked into reactor intake systems, or pulverized at the discharge, aquatic animals and their habitats are routinely harmed and destroyed by the routine operation of reactors” (Beyond Nuclear). Every year the environment and species that live within the ecosystem see a direct effect from nuclear power plants. The issues not only derive from the radiation that is produced in the plant but from the water released from the cooling system and other sources that may release harmful toxins. These lakes are often considered to have unnatural temperatures along with other complications due to some of the unregulated water that is released back into the lake. There are unique characteristics that come with having a nuclear plant on the water. Nuclear power plants require a lot of water in order to be cooled down. They are mostly located near big lakes, rivers or

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