Environmental Impact.

Nuclear power has a different type of environmental impact than other energy sources. Abnormal events at nuclear power plants, such as a release of radioactive material following a damaging earthquake, can have severe consequences for the environment. Extensive backup systems and modern technology can reduce the chance of these events happening. The waste produced is discharged, high-level radioactive spent fuel and low- to intermediate-level radioactive waste. A modern nuclear plant produces about 1,050 cubic feet of compacted waste a year; compare this to a 1000-megawatt coal plant sending about 24,250 tons of nitrous oxides and 48,500 tons of sulphur oxides into the atmosphere each year.

Security Issues

Nuclear power plants must be thoroughly protected from terrorist attacks. Stolen fuel rods can potentially be used to make a "dirty bomb." An aircraft attack on a plant could release radioactive material. Use of nuclear power, however, can help a country reduce its dependence on external fuel sources and avoid national security threats and economic issues if those fuel sources become unavailable.

Costs

Nuclear power plants have high startup costs. Plants must invest heavily in containment systems and emergency plans. Extensive backup systems must be built and contingency plans must be developed to handle the rare threat of core meltdown. The cost of a nuclear plant’s future decommissioning must be considered and funded, as well. Despite these costs, the uranium used for nuclear power plants is a heavily concentrated source of energy that transports easily.

Waste Storage

Radioactive waste must be placed in long-term storage systems. Spent fuel rods emit dangerous radioactivity that slowly decreases with time through radioactive decay. The United States has no permanent facility for high-level nuclear waste, so spent fuel is commonly stored in sites near nuclear power plants.

Plastics

Plastics have many advantages over other materials. Aside from the many shapes and types of plastic bottles, plastics can be recyclable. Plastic bottles are widely used and can be found in supermarkets, vending machines, as a disposable bottle, or a reusable water bottle. Plastics are also cheap and reliable. Plastics have even moved into new markets, like the wine and beer industries. This is because plastics have some advantages over glass.

Plastic Properties

Plastic is synthetic, therefore it can have many properties. Plastic can be hard, strong, durable, soft, flexible, heat resistant, shatterproof and corrosion resistant. This means the container will not break like glass if dropped, and can sit on a shelf for a long time. Plastic bottles are also lightweight, and transparent, so you can see the contents.

Recycling

Plastic is a recyclable material, which benefits the economy and the environment. Industries have also started using less plastic per bottle, which when combined with recycling, can save resources and finances. From the environmental point of view, less resources means overall less pollution. The recycling of plastic is also a widely accepted practice, which means recycling bins are never far from trash cans.

Skepticism

Some skeptics believe that plastics are dangerous and can contaminate water or food because of their inherent chemical properties. Plastics can be poisonous. There are many forms of plastics with different chemical polymers. On the other hand, plastic bottles are safe to drink out of because the type of plastic used and its process is made for the purpose of holding safe drinking water. As long as plastics are used as intended, meaning using microwave safe bowls in a microwave, consumers have little to be concerned about.

Date: 2015-12-17; view: 860