The Ideal Site For Radioactive Waste Disposal

For years, many scientists, environmentalists, and energy experts have been studying how human’s creation and use of energy has impacted our environment. These experts have discovered some troubling facts. Most of our country’s energy is created from burning fossil fuels that pollute our atmosphere, contribute to global warming, and thus threaten the future of our planet. But there’s a safe and effective solution to this problem: nuclear power. Nuclear power should be used more in the United States to create clean power that doesn’t pollute our environment, in order to help combat climate change.

The disposal of of nuclear waste is another environmental concern that must be dealt with in a smart manner. This is a highly debated topic for several reasons. Having a half-life of 10,000+ years, some radioactive substances will stay highly dangerous for thousands of years. One possible solution to the storage of nuclear waste is the Yucca mountain project (McCombie). This would provide a universal storage site for all of the nuclear waste of the United States. However; there still are many things to be worked out for this solution such as - how will the nuclear waste be safely transported to Yucca Mountain?

Nuclear waste is a by-product of the uranium enrichment process and the operation of nuclear power plants. One of the most common radioactive isotopes found in nuclear waste is plutonium-239, which is capable of causing cancer-related fatalities for millions of people in very small amounts. Other isotopes include iodine-129, cesium-137, and uranium-238, all of which are highly radioactive and have half-lives in the tens of

The use of fossil fuels as a primary source of power is poisoning our world, and nuclear power is just the way to stop this. Nuclear power is using the process of nuclear fission to create electricity. Nuclear fission is the splitting of a uranium atom to release massive amounts of energy. When this process takes place in a nuclear reactor, the energy is used to superheat water which is pumped through pipes also submerged in water which then boils. The pressurized water vapor is used to turn turbines that produce electricity. Nuclear power is one of the cleanest, safest, most reliable and economically beneficial sources of power, and it needs to be considered as a substitute for fossil fuels. Nuclear power unfortunately has been given a bad name, but is actually an important resource that should be utilized by the U.S. and the rest of the world.

Nowadays, governments are facing two main problems about electricity: resources of fossil fuels are running out and countries need to diminish their carbon emissions. Nuclear is seen as the most common alternative. Nuclear currently supplies 19% of the UK’s electricity and 11% in the world (NIA,2015). In the UK, all but one of the current nuclear plants are due to close by 2023. Should the UK replace their nuclear plants by a new generation of nuclear stations? Because of the accidents, costs and problems of nuclear waste, some people are opposed to this possibility. Their solution would be that Britain could achieve 85% of its power via renewable energy by 2030. This essay will examine if nuclear power is the best alternative to fossil fuels while continuing to supply the rising demand for electricity in the UK. It will be argued that there are advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power and that other alternatives should be considered.

Individually, they're no larger than your pinkie, but the energy-packed pellets that are the radioactive remains of nuclear power generation pose an enormous problem for nuclear energy plants that weren't originally designed to store them. So far the 103 operating nuclear reactors in the United States have generated an estimated 45,000 tons of waste that is expected to remain radioactive for more than 200,000 years (Onion, 2016). And right now, the waste, which emits radioactive particles that can eat away at human tissue and organs, is being stored in tanks or concrete and steel bunkers at sites that were only meant to contain the waste for perhaps decades, not centuries. "Spent fuel is now stored in pools and dry casks," says Rodney Ewing, a professor in nuclear engineering at the University of Michigan. "Today it's safe. But it's certainly not a long-term solution (Ewing, 2015)."

According to data from the Nuclear Energy Institute, nuclear energy accounted for 63.3% of emission-free electricity in the US while solar, wind and thermal energy collectively accounted for only 15.4% of emission-free electricity in the US. The operating capacity of solar and wind energy farms hinge on intermittent environmental conditions and thus, these methods are only able to attain an average capacity of 20-30%. This is in stark contrast to nuclear energy’s average capacity of 86%. 4 Opponents may point out that the processes used to build and fuel the nuclear energy plants will emit pollutants and greenhouse gases. However, studies have found that the life-cycle emissions of nuclear plants is comparable to the other forms of renewable energy.5

This waste is so lethal that standing near it without shielding would kill you in minutes. This type of radiation will stay radioactive to humans and other creatures for hundreds or possibly thousands of years. Low-level waste is usually generated from hospitals and other industry that includes paper, rags, tools, clothing, etc. It contains small amounts of radioactivity that are usually short-lived and considered not as dangerous.

Due to the nature of the proposed facility, there are multiple components that need to be considered. The supporting and technical documents were taken from nine different major fields which included Atmospheric Environment, Hydrology and Surface Water Quality, Geology, Aquatic Environment, Terrestrial Environment, Socio-Economic Environment, Aboriginal Interests, Radiation and Radioactivity and Malfunctions, Accidents and Malevolent acts. Extensive studies have been published in every field describing the process and the effects of the nuclear waste disposal facility along with different scenarios that might take place.

Central Idea: Nuclear energy only contributes a small amount to the world’s electricity yet it has hazards and dangers that far out-way its benefits. There are many other alternative power producing sources that can produce energy more efficiently and more safely than nuclear power plants can.

It is mandatory that measures are taken to eliminate nuclear waste because of the detrimental effect that these radioactive substances have. Radiation emits waves of harmful energy in waves or subatomic particles that have the ability to pass through various materials such as cells, skin, or metal. “The mix of materials in nuclear waste means it could possibly need to be isolated for

The world as we know today is dependent on energy. The options we have currently enable us to produce energy economically but at a cost to the environment. As fossil fuel source will be diminishing over time, other alternatives will be needed. An alternative that is presently utilized is nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is currently the most efficacious energy source. Every time the word ‘nuclear’ is mentioned, the first thought that people have is the devastating effects of nuclear energy. Granting it does come with its drawbacks; this form of energy emits far less pollution than conventional power plants. Even though certain disadvantages of nuclear energy are devastating, the advantages contain even greater rewards.

Nuclear power is one of the most controversial topics of our time. In a time where people are looking more towards greener energy and towards a more plentiful supply of it, the nuclear breeder reactor comes to shine. A Nuclear Breeder Reactor works on the principal of taking waste from a normal reactor, and using it to make more energy. In such a reactor, what occurs is “Neutrons flying around in these reactors not only induce uranium-235 to split and release energy, but also convert non-fissile uranium-238 into fissile plutonium-239” (Webb). In most reactors, this dangerous, bomb-grade material would be thrown away. This waste is highly radioactive, and can remain so for many millennia. But instead, it can make even greater amounts of

Let us first understand the nature of the waste and therefore the disposal process. Radioactive wastes are hazardous as an exposure to them could be lethal to human beings. Since some of the radioisotopes have long half life, they will take long time to naturally become harmless. The quantum of exposure (dose ´ duration of exposure) decides the deleterious effects that may result. Exposure may occur to particular organs locally or to the whole body. Sufficiently high exposure can lead to cancer.

The purpose of a nuclear power plant is to produce electricity for supporting increases in consumption. Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) defines nuclear energy as “the energy released by a nuclear reaction, especially by fission or fusion. In general terms, nuclear energy uses fuel made from mined and processed uranium to make steam and generate electricity” (ENEC 2011). Nuclear power plant currently producing electricity in the U.S include the Pressurized Water Reactor and the Boiling Water Reactor. To illustrate the importance of nuclear energy to the United States, 20% of our nation’s electricity production comes from the 104 commercially operating reactors (Funk and Socacool 2012). However, security issues surrounding nuclear power lead to the U.S nuclear regulatory agencies imposing strict regulations on the production of nuclear energy.