Many countries use nuclear energy to obtain electricity. Nuclear power plants can generate large amounts of electricity over a long period, which allows people to use electricity cheaply. Unlike other energy sources such as gas and oil, nuclear power plants do not emit carbon dioxide. However, if a power plant fails, it can cause catastrophic environmental and national damage because of radioactivity and nuclear waste. Therefore, some countries are directing the shutdown of nuclear power plants to protect the environment and develop alternative energy.
What is nuclear energy and how does it work?
Nuclear energy is in the form of atoms and consists of protons and neutrons, and the atom used in power plants is uranium-235. Nuclear power produces enormous amounts of energy through fission and fusion. The chain reaction means a continuous process of fission of nuclei. Power plants provide electricity from energy generated by nuclear chain reactions. Moreover, most nuclear power plants are near the sea because they need a lot of water to manage the heat generated when the nuclear chain reaction occurs (Galindo. A, 2021).
The dangers of nuclear energy
Chernobyl Disaster
On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Unit 4 exploded in Ukraine. The accident happened while the reactor crew was testing how long the turbine could supply electricity during a power failure before emergency power was activated (Union, 2013). After the accident, there were a lot of victims and deaths. Due to radiation exposure, more than 4,000 children and teenagers under the age of 18 were diagnosed with thyroid cancer between 1992 and 2002.
Fukushima Disaster
The accident occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant due to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11, 2011. The power plant was flooded, and the power and cooling systems were damaged. This caused the fuel to melt, hydrogen to explode, and radioactive materials to leak.
Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The incident occurred in 1945, when the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the cities of the Japanese Empire during the Pacific War. It remains the only instance of the use of nuclear weapons for deathly purposes. When a bomb explodes, the core temperature is between 3,000 and 4,000 degrees Celsius, and the sun’s surface temperature is about 6,000 degrees Celsius. The people affected by the explosion evaporated, and the shadows of the atomic bomb were formed around the walls where people were. It is guessed that approximately 70,000 to 135,000 people died in Hiroshima and 60,000 to 80,000 died in Nagasaki (History.com Editors, 2009).
Types of alternative energy
Countries around the world continue to develop eco-friendly energy because of the global warming problem, the dangers of nuclear power plants, and the depletion of natural resources. In addition, there are currently various renewable energies such as Solar energy, Wind energy, Hydroelectric power, and Geothermal energy.
Solar energy is a typical example that can be easily installed and used in every house. Photovoltaic cells are composed on a roof or yard to convert solar energy into electricity. People can use this to save on electricity bills, and power plants can reduce the operating time for generating electricity, so it is possible to protect the environment (Shinn, 2018).
Conclusion
Nuclear power plants generate electricity for people and are important; however, they must be reduced to prevent and protect overall environmental problems. Furthermore, nuclear power used during warfare or killing people should be banned and stopped worldwide together. Countries and international organizations should encourage and promote the use of safe and renewable energy. In addition, they must inform the public about the dangers of various power plants and how to respond in case of problems.
Reference
Galindo, A. (2021). What is Nuclear Energy? The Science of Nuclear Power. [online] www.iaea.org. Available at: https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/what-is-nuclear-energy-the-science-of-nuclear-power [Accessed 22 May 2022].
www.ucsusa.org. (2013). A Brief History of Nuclear Accidents Worldwide | Union of Concerned Scientists. [online] Available at: https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/brief-history-nuclear-accidents-worldwide#toc-chernobyl [Accessed 25 May 2022].
History.com Editors (2009). Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. [online] HISTORY. Available at: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki [Accessed 25 May 2022].
Shinn, L. (2018). Renewable Energy: the Clean Facts. [online] NRDC. Available at: https://www.nrdc.org/stories/renewable-energy-clean-facts [Accessed 25 May 2022].
