Nuclear fallout is the residual radioactive material put into the atmosphere after a nuclear blast. Many do not understand the lasting effects these particles have on human health and the environment. If these elements cause the problems that scientists say they do, then why would we continue to use them? The lasting effects of the fallout on the human body and the environment outweighs the good these resources and elements are used for. “The components of radioactive fallout that cause the greatest concern are those that can take some role in plant or animal metabolism” (Radioactive Fallout). The particles released in the air fall to the ground and coat everything in its path, leaving radioactive residue behind. If this is on the ground …show more content…
it is near humans and on the organisms we thrive on such as livestock and forage, then why would we allow such contamination to our people? The residue that is released ,is called Strontium-90 that is a radioactive isotope which can stay active for up to thirty years. “Strontium-90 released during a fission bomb blast falls to Earth, coats grass, and is eaten by cows.
The cows incorporate strontium-90 into their milk, just as they do calcium. When growing children drink that milk, the strontium-90 is used to build bones and teeth, just as calcium is normally used. Once incorporated into bones and teeth, however, the radioactive strontium continues to emit harmful radiation for about thirty years” (Radioactive Fallout). Thirty years ,is far too long for something to affect the environment and the organisms that inhabit it. Nuclear energy was created to prevent global warming, but I wouldn’t say global warming is our biggest concern with this battle. Further, Williams state’s “Most statistics tell us breast cancer is genetic, hereditary, with rising percentages attached to fatty diets, childlessness, or becoming pregnant after thirty. What they don’t say is living in Utah may be the greatest hazard of them all” (Williams 148). Williams uses her family history of cancer as an effect from the bombings from when she was a young child. What Williams does not point out or even say is whether generations of her family before her were sickly or not. Cancer was not a well-known diagnosis in the early 1900’s, and has recently become a more vast diagnosis. Williams makes the claim that all of her issues and her family issues were because of the bombings and this could very well be true, but without proper research and verification, her accusations are unfortunately not
viable. All while, Thomas Hatcher from Saginaw, Michigan was a nuclear plant manager with a life many would like to have because of his comfort level and status. Mr. Hatcher was well paid and had a beautiful family and home. Unfortunately, Mr. Hatcher decided it would be a great idea to bring home a piece of radioactive material, only about the size of a small pill. During the course of the next two years Hatcher’s entire family fell sick from cancer, and eventually died due to the exposure from the radiation. Although this was a unfortunate situation many would wonder why he did such a stupendous act, and now nobody will ever know. The Hatcher’s home is still under decontamination because of the high levels of radiation, and the pill sized piece of radioactive material has been brought back to the plant and stored. “The accidental release of radioactivity, whether from a reactor accident, terrorist attack, or slow leakage of radioactive waste into the local environment, poses the risk of catastrophic harm to communities and to vital natural resources, such as underground aquifers used for irrigation and drinking water” (Natural Resources Defense Council). Humans should keep the environment clean and healthy to inhabit because if not the earth will falter as we know it and human kind will diminish as the earth does. Using this radioactive material may have pro’s such as cost efficiency, global warming cut back, and it will open new jobs but, the cons outweigh the pros. The environment is in dire need of help from pollution and global warming matter but if the humans are sick and we dump more waste then how will we create new ways to clean up earth? In particular, global warming may be an important issue alongside the cost and efficiency of nuclear use but human health in the end is what matters most. Nuclear bombs are used as a scare tactic although we as humans know the consequences of using them. Radioactive material is not safe from the gathering of research that’s been composed. If allowed the ability to shut the nuclear plants down, and stop the transporting of radioactive material, it would have been done a long time ago. Cancer may or may not have been cause by radioactive material but it has shown in the research that being exposed will eventually cause complications and eventually death.
The article “Nuclear Waste” is an interesting perspective from Richard Muller. Muller is a very credited author and he speaks his mind about the situation where people are trying to figure out how to deal with nuclear waste around the U.S. There are many proposed ideas but Muller has a very simple and straight forward idea that he believes is the ideal decision. The essay he wrote can be interpreted in different ways but his motive for writing is very clear. Muller’s background is quite impressive because he is highly credited. When reading Muller’s essay, you notice points that supports his argument and truth about the situation around nuclear power.
Radioactive Waste One of the most talked about opposition to nuclear fission is the radioactive waste it produces. Radioactive waste is what is left behind after using a reactor to make electricity. There are two levels of waste, low and high, but both are regulated by the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. High level waste is made up of fuel that’s been used directly in the reactor, which is highly radioactive but can still be disposed of. Low-level waste is the contaminated items that have been exposed to radiation.
Japan: The Only Victim of The Atomic Bomb Japan will never forget the day of August 6 and 9 in 1945; we became the only victim of the atomic bombs in the world. When the atomic bombs were dropped at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there was World War II. The decision to drop the atomic bombs was affected by different backgrounds such as the Manhattan Project, and the Pacific War. At Hiroshima City, the population of Hiroshima was 350,000 when the atomic bomb dropped. Also, the population of Nagasaki was around 250,000 ("Overview.").
Chernobyl, one word that still strikes pain and fear in the hearts of many, even after 28 years is still causing serious damage. It was largest nuclear disaster ever, Chernobyl was “. . . about 400 times more potent than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima during World War II . . .” (Walmsley “26 years on: helping Chernobyl's children”). The disaster was not immediately seen as a large threat, and this is why so many lives were taken or destroyed.
"Estimated Exposures and Thyroid Doses Received by the American People from Iodine-131 in Fallout Following Nevada Atmospheric Nuclear Bomb Tests National Cancer Institute (NCI). 2002. June 2004.
Contamination from the depleted uranium weaponries and other pollution caused by war is alleged for the rise in congenital birth defects, cancer, and other illnesses (Jamail, 2013).
(Action): If we don’t do our part to stop the expansion of nuclear power plants, the future of our planet will be bleaker. Every year, thousands of more pounds of nuclear waste will be buried underground and the damage to our environment increases. There are more efficient energy sources other than nuclear power and we must do our part today to prevent a catastrophic future for our children. The dangers that nuclear power plants pose for the United States are very real. There are many alternative renewable sources of energy available to us such as wind and solar power, which provide a much safer and efficient alternative to nuclear power. You alone have the power to speak up and act against the expansion of this dangerous energy. The future of our environment’s safety and our nation’s energy supply lies in your hands.
One of the biggest and longest lasting environmental impacts of the detonation of the atomic bomb is the radiation contaminations that are left over. These contaminations spread into water, air, animals, soil and into the atmosphere. What’s worse is that these contaminations have materials that have very long half-life meaning that their radiation effects do not decay quickly. “Many of the substances released, including plutonium, uranium, strontium, cesium, benzene, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury and cyanide, are carcinogenic and/or mutagenic and remain hazardous for thousands, some for hundreds of thousands, of year” (The Effects of nuclear weapons). The spread of these contaminates will cause significant health risks to animals ca...
...nce World War II to the present day, the technology of nuclear power has increased significantly in terms of energy output and safety. The energy efficiency of nuclear power is far superior to its counterpart fossil fuel and renewable energy. Compared to fossil fuels, tiny amounts of fuel used by nuclear reactors is equivalent to a large sum of coal. This is a no brainer. Why mine a ton of coal when a little uranium can be used to gain the same amount of energy? Not only is it efficient, it’s safe to use. Used fuel is packed away in storage safely, so there isn’t any chance of radiation leaking out. In the present day, nuclear power incidents haven’t been occurring lately. Advancements in technology and equipment used have made nuclear energy a very reliable and safe source of energy. With today’s energy needs, nuclear power has the ability to keep up in the race.
Radiation has always been in everyday life even before Roentgen discovered x-ray. The mountains give off natural radiation, other forms of radiation are coal burning power plants, x-rays from a TV, and an airplane ride. The average dose from background radiation is about 360 mrem every year. There are two types of radiation, nonionizing and ionizing radiation. Examples of nonionizing radiation are microwaves and radio waves broadcasting. Ionizing radiation refers to gamma and x-rays. Ionizing radiation means that the rays are able to remove an electron from the atom then ions can be formed. The ions can cause damage when reacting with other atoms. Cells are able to be repaired if low dose are received. However, if cells get a high dose, the cells will be damaged or possibly die. If the cell is damaged permanently then it is referred to as a mutated cell.
Flanary, W. (2008). Environment effects of the Chernobyl accident. Retrieved November 1st, 2013 from /http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/152617
About 31 or more people had died from the tragic event in 1986 in Chernobyl, Russia from the accident itself or from thyroid cancer that developed after the incident later on down the road chernobyl was a horrific event and lead to more deaths even after the fact.Another nuclear related accident was when the TMI power planted almost melted down,it showed us that a lot can happen from one small problem such as a faulty pressure valve can over heat the reactor and this could cause a plant to meltdown.A problem we face everyday still is nuclear waste, we wonder where we can put it that allows the population to still be safe.The U.S. is doing a latter approach for nuclear waste and the location chosen for this is Yucca Mountain in Nevada. They feel waste is to dangerous to just leave it.A good thing about power plants is that they are safer than other methods in the working field.Nuclear power is useful but with the radiation given off or if the power plant exploded or something along those lines the radiation is stronger and more powerful and can spread across a location and kill many. Nuclear power is also safer having less deaths on the job compared to other generating sources known as oil refiners or other fossil fuel jobs.
In Terry Tempest Williams, “The Clan of One-Breasted Women” she talked about the women in her families’ struggle with breast cancer. She points out that the reason behind it is the nuclear testing that was done in Utah. Williams tone throughout her writing is brave and determined yet angry at the same time. This is shown when she writes “But as I walked toward the town of Mercury, it was more than a gesture of peace. It was a gesture on behalf of the Clan of One-breasted women” She writes this explaining when she crossed the Nevada Test Site on March 18, 1988 to try and protest the nuclear testing in the deserts.
Radiation is one of the most dangerous and easiest way of having health effects. Radiation was first discovered by Roentgen. Hazards are the first things people need to know in order to understand what it can do to your body. It causes many health effects on everyone out in the world. It harms people in the dentistry and field and even in the medical field. Normal people out the world can also be exposed when coming into one of these offices and getting x-rays of some type.
One of the greatest events of twentieth century was the use of radioisotope as a source of energy and as medical and industrial tools. Using radioactivity has been a global issue owing to its very nature. When it is used for peaceful purposes, it is a triumph of science because it can solve energy problems in the form of nuclear energy but the side effects in the form of harmful radiation and harmful radioactive waste is the real limitations of science. This essay will attempt to analyze the application of science in the use of radioactivity and radioactive isotopes and how science is not so effective in dealing with the side effects.