Nuclear Power Plants on the Environment
The safety and environmental impact of nuclear power have been debated since the first nuclear reactors were built. Nuclear energy has been touted as a cleaner, more efficient alternative to coal and petroleum. However, nuclear disasters such as those at Three-Mile Island, Chernobyl and Japan leave seemingly permanent scars on the environment.
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Air Emissions
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Unlike their fossil fuel-powered counterparts, nuclear power plants release no greenhouse gases into the air. The only airborne contaminants produced by a nuclear power plant are negligible amounts of radioactive gases.
While the nuclear power plant itself does not create any of the greenhouse gases, the process of refining, enriching, shipping and storing radioactive material requires fossil fuel, thereby producing greenhouse gases.
Uranium Mining
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Uranium, the preferred fuel for nuclear power plants, must be mined. Mining methods are similar to coal mining, which tends to contaminate air and ground water. In order to extract uranium, large amounts of rock are mined and uranium is removed. This creates piles of waste rock, which may emit radon gas or may contaminate water. In addition, most uranium mines are open pit mines, which leave large scars on the landscape.
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Effects on Water
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Nuclear power plants require immense volumes of water to cool the core and spent fuel rods. This impacts water resources and aquatic ecosystems. Sea water is pumped into power plants, killing many fish and other aquatic animals. Nuclear power plants consume much more water than any other type of power plant.
Nuclear Meltdown
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A nuclear meltdown will not cause a nuclear explosion. However, the large scale release of radioactive energy can render the land unhabitable for many years to come. The radiation can harm humans, animals and plants. Radiation from Chernobyl contaminated soil, which contaminated crops and plants, which affected humans and other animals that fed on the plants. Radiation from the fallout was found on sheep in the United Kingdom and in rain in the United States.
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