Why Nuclear Power is Harmful

There are many reasons why nuclear power is harmful to people, the environment and the world. Accidents at nuclear power stations cause catastrophic damage, as we are still seeing at Chernobyl, almost 25 years on.

Nuclear power provides around 20% of the electricity which powers the United States, and while there are advantages for the increased use of nuclear power, there are also some very distinct disadvantages. These disadvantages can be harmful to the people, to the environment, and to the whole world.

Radiation from Nuclear Power

The splitting of the atom or fission process actually creates radioactive material, and consequently gives off radiation. This radiation is then released into the air, and it is incredibly harmful to very many living things. Our bodies and homes do have a natural amount of radiation, but the added radiation from the nuclear waste can increase it to harmful levels. If living things are exposed to harmful amounts of radiation, it can cause mutations, especially in newborns. Everyday exposure to naturally outputted radiation is minimal, but there is a school of thought (and with good reason) to believe that nuclear disasters are just catastrophes waiting to happen, yet again.

Chernobyl

The disaster at Chernobyl, Ukraine, in 1986 was a grim reminder of the colossal danger lurking within nuclear power plants. The complete lack of safety was felt by many, to be a direct consequence of the areas isolation because of the Cold War. Nevertheless, the devastating effects of the disaster at Chernobyl are still being measured almost 25 years later, although it is difficult to assess the full significance due to lack of public health records prior to the disaster. 30 people died within weeks of the accident; with thousands more being subjected to dangerous levels of radiation, and within a few weeks more than 100,000 people had been evacuated from their homes. It is doubtless whether the full effects of Chernobyl will ever really be known, but needless to say, the world woke up to the very real dangers of nuclear power that grim April morning, and no matter what advantages are cited by the supporters of nuclear power, they are often overshadowed by the memories of Chernobyl.

Nuclear Power Waste

Every nuclear power will generate, on average, around 20 metric tons of high level radioactive waste per year. Add that up with the nuclear plants around the world, and this means that there are approximately 2,000 metric tons being produced globally. This radioactive waste will eventually corrode any container, seeping out and proving lethal to all life forms close by. Used equipment and parts also produce a large amount of low level radioactive waste. This is the grim legacy of nuclear power.