Barrons AP Environmental Science

(Marvins-Underground-K-12) #1
■ Water pollution   is  low.
■ Disruption of land is low to moderate.
■ Nuclear power plants provide a stable baseload of energy which can work
synergistically with renewable energy sources such as wind and solar
(e.g., the electricity production from the plants can be lowered when wind
and solar resources are available and increased when the demand is high).
■ There is enough uranium needed for the next 80 years.
■ It is possible to fuel nuclear power plants with thorium, which is a greener
alternative. China, Russia, and India have plans to start using thorium to
fuel their reactors in the near future.

Cons


■ Thermal   pollution   is  the most    persistent  environmental   threat—the  effects
can be diminished through the use of heat exchangers and cooling towers
and ponds. It impacts the local environment by:


  • decreasing biodiversity due to lower dissolved oxygen levels and
    higher water temperatures

  • increasing bacterial growth in the water, which increases the risk of
    diseases

  • increasing the growth of algae in waterways and decreasing the
    dissolved oxygen levels

  • increasing metabolic rates, which can result in thermal shock
    ■ Nuclear wastes take millions of years to degrade—problems include
    where to store them and how to keep them out of the hands of terrorists.
    ■ Decommissioning a nuclear power plant can cost over $300 million,
    which seriously impacts net-profit.
    ■ Low net-energy yield—the energy required for mining uranium,
    processing ore, building and operating the plant, decommissioning and
    dismantling the plant, and storing wastes.
    ■ Causes safety and maintenance issues, including the release of radioactive
    material into the environment (e.g., Fukushima Daiichi, Three Mile
    Island, and Chernobyl).
    ■ Mining uranium results in mine tailings that are radioactive, the alteration
    of wildlife habitats, and groundwater contamination.

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