Nuclear Power: Pollution And The Planet

Nuclear power is a controversial energy source that has been proposed as a solution to climate change. Nuclear energy is produced by the process of nuclear fission, where a neutron strikes the nucleus of an atom, causing it to break into pieces and release heat and radiation. While nuclear power has been promoted as a clean and carbon-free energy source, there are several concerns about its environmental impact and safety. Nuclear power plants require a long and complex construction process, produce radioactive waste, and can pose extreme risks to human health and the environment in the event of accidents or disasters. Uranium mining, which is necessary for nuclear fuel, can also lead to severe health risks for workers and environmental damage. Despite these concerns, some countries continue to rely on nuclear power, while others are debating its future role in their energy mix.

Nuclear power plants pollute water and kill aquatic life

Nuclear power plants have been a topic of debate for decades due to their potential environmental impacts, particularly water pollution and its detrimental effects on aquatic life. The process of generating nuclear power involves significant water usage for cooling, which can have unintended consequences for aquatic ecosystems.

Nuclear power plants often utilise a cooling system called "Once Through Cooling (OTC)", which relies on a nearby water source such as a river, lake, or ocean. This system draws in an immense volume of water, estimated at nearly one billion gallons per day, to cool the plant and then discharges it back into the original water body. The intake process itself can be detrimental to aquatic life, trapping various organisms, including fish, larvae, plankton, and even marine mammals, in the cooling system or against its filters. Some small creatures are sucked into the system and killed, while others become trapped and drown, including oxygen-breathing marine mammals.

The discharged water is another concern, as it is significantly warmer than the original water source, by up to 25 degrees. This warmer water can be harmful to the ecosystem, killing some aquatic life and causing others to migrate in search of cooler waters. Additionally, the warmer water can attract non-native aquatic species, which often succumb to cold shock when the cooling system is inactive during maintenance periods.

Beyond the direct impact on aquatic life, nuclear power plants also contribute to water pollution through the production and disposal of radioactive waste. This waste, including spent fuel rods and other radioactive byproducts, can pose a serious threat to water systems if not properly managed. While regulations and safety protocols are in place to minimise the risk of water pollution, accidents and leaks, such as those that occurred at Chernobyl and Fukushima, have resulted in catastrophic releases of radioactive materials, heavily contaminating nearby rivers and oceans.

Furthermore, the mining and refining of uranium ore, a key fuel source for nuclear power plants, can also lead to water pollution. Underground uranium mining exposes workers to severe health risks and leaves behind toxic, radioactive remnants that can contaminate land and water. Open-pit mining destroys ecosystems, and in situ leaching permanently contaminates groundwater.

Nuclear disasters and their impact on human health

Nuclear disasters have had a significant impact on human health, with the potential to cause widespread contamination and long-lasting effects on the environment and public health. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) defines a nuclear accident as "an event that has led to significant consequences to people, the environment, or the facility." Here are some examples of nuclear disasters and their impact on human health:

Chernobyl Disaster, Ukraine (1986)

The Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine in 1986 is considered the worst nuclear accident in history. The accident exposed about 125,000 square miles (320,000 square kilometres) of land across Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia to radiation. The area surrounding the nuclear power plant will remain uninhabitable for at least 3,000 years. The health consequences included increased rates of cancer, immune deficiencies, infant mortality, birth defects, acute radiation syndrome, and mental health issues. The impact of the disaster extended beyond the immediate area, as contaminated water and food affected millions of people.

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster, Japan (2011)

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Japan experienced a meltdown of all three operating reactors after an earthquake and tsunami in 2011. Surrounding agricultural areas were contaminated with high levels of cesium, severely impacting food production in eastern Fukushima. The long-term presence of cesium and other isotopes in the top layer of soils across eastern and northeastern Japan poses ongoing risks to human health.

Three Mile Island Generating Station, Pennsylvania (1979)

The partial meltdown at the Three Mile Island Generating Station in 1979 led to increases in cancer and other diseases in the surrounding area. The radiation released during the accident posed a significant health risk to the nearby population.

Church Rock Uranium Spill, Navajo Nation, USA

The Church Rock uranium spill is considered the worst radiation disaster in U.S. history. While details of its impact on human health are scarce, it is known that uranium mining exposes workers to severe health risks, including lung cancer.

Other Nuclear Submarine Accidents

Serious radiation accidents have also occurred involving nuclear submarines, including the K-19 (1961), K-11 (1965), K-27 (1968), K-140 (1968), K-429 (1970), K-222 (1980), and K-431 (1985). These accidents have had varying impacts on human health, with potential consequences including radiation sickness, cardiovascular disease, cataracts, and cancer.

While nuclear power plants have safeguards in place to prevent accidents and minimise environmental impact, the potential for human error and mechanical failures remains. The production and use of nuclear energy carry inherent risks, and accidents can have devastating and long-lasting consequences for human health and the environment.

Uranium extraction methods and their environmental impact

Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive element that has been mined and used for its chemical properties for over a thousand years. Uranium extraction methods can be broadly classified into three types: in-situ leaching (ISL), open-pit mining, and underground mining.

In-Situ Leaching

In-situ leaching, also known as in situ recovery (ISR), is the process of pumping chemicals into groundwater to dissolve uranium from porous rocks. This method is used when uranium is located deep underground at relatively low concentrations. After the uranium is dissolved, the liquid containing uranium is pumped to the surface and processed to recover the uranium. ISL has become the most common uranium extraction method in the United States, especially in Texas and Wyoming, as it does not disturb the natural surface or produce waste tailings. However, ISL can impact the characteristics of the porous rock in the uranium capture zone, and there is a risk of the injection solution escaping and contaminating nearby aquifers.

Open-Pit Mining

Open-pit mining involves stripping away the topsoil and rock above the uranium ore to dig it out of the ground. This method is used when uranium is located near the surface. While open-pit mining produces less radioactive waste rock than underground mining, it still generates waste tailings that contain radioactive materials and can contaminate the environment if not managed properly.

Underground Mining

Underground mining requires drilling deep shafts into the ore bed and using water to prevent radiation exposure for laborers. The ore deposits are brought to the surface, processed into uranium yellowcake, and the waste is disposed of in near-surface impoundments. This method exposes workers to more radioactive gases and produces toxic tailings that can leach contaminants into the water.

Environmental Impact

Regardless of the extraction method, uranium mining and processing have significant environmental impacts, particularly on air quality, soil, surface water, groundwater, and biota. Uranium extraction produces radioactive waste and tailings that contain radionuclides and other contaminants, which can result in groundwater contamination and increase health risks for nearby communities. The management of these wastes and the disposal methods used are critical in mitigating the environmental and health impacts of uranium mining.

Nuclear waste and its transportation and storage

Nuclear waste is classified as low-level or high-level waste, with radioactivity ranging from slightly higher than natural background levels to the much higher radioactivity of used reactor fuel and parts of nuclear reactors. The radioactivity of nuclear waste decreases over time through radioactive decay, and radioactive waste with a short half-life is often stored temporarily before disposal to reduce radiation doses to workers who handle and transport it. Low-level radioactive waste typically includes tools, protective clothing, wiping cloths, and other disposable items that become contaminated with small amounts of radioactive particles at nuclear fuel processing facilities and nuclear power plants. These materials are subject to special regulations for their handling, storage, and disposal to prevent contact with the outside environment.

High-level radioactive waste consists of irradiated or spent nuclear reactor fuel. Spent reactor fuel is highly radioactive and must initially be stored in specially designed pools of water, which cools the fuel and acts as a radiation shield. It can also be stored in specially designed dry storage containers. The Department of Energy (DOE) in the United States is responsible for disposing of high-level waste in a permanent geologic repository but has yet to build such a facility due to policy impasses. As a result, the amount of spent nuclear fuel stored at nuclear power plants continues to grow.

The transportation and storage of nuclear waste are subject to strict regulations to protect human health and the environment. Various container and cask designs are used to transport and store used nuclear fuel, with some accommodating specific fuel assembly designs and burn-up rates. For instance, Orano's NUHOMS EOS dry shield canisters hold 37 PWR or 89 BWR fuel assemblies and are transferred in the EOS TC series transfer cask for storage in NUHOMS EOS HSM concrete modules. In Sweden, more than 80 large transport casks are shipped annually to an interim waste storage facility.

While nuclear waste disposal is challenging, nuclear fuel is extremely dense, and the amount of waste produced is relatively small. All the used nuclear fuel produced by the U.S. nuclear energy industry in the last 60 years could fit on a football field at a depth of less than 10 yards. This waste can also be reprocessed and recycled, and some advanced reactor designs may be able to operate on used fuel.

Nuclear energy is expensive and time-consuming to produce

Nuclear energy is generally considered a clean energy source, and it is one of the most reliable energy sources on the grid. However, it is also one of the most expensive and time-consuming forms of energy to produce. Nuclear power plants cost billions of dollars to build and can take over a decade to complete, much longer than any infrastructure for renewable energy.

The high cost of nuclear energy is attributed to the significant capital expenditure required for building plants. Nuclear power plants are considerably more expensive to build than equivalent coal-fueled or gas-fueled plants. Fuel costs also contribute to the high expenses, accounting for about 28% of a nuclear plant's operating expenses. Uranium, the metal that commonly fuels nuclear power, is extracted through underground or open-pit mining, which can be extremely harmful to the environment and the health of workers.

The lengthy construction process of nuclear power plants is a significant obstacle in the transition to net-zero emissions. The time-consuming nature of building nuclear infrastructure is due to the complex safety requirements and the need for specialized equipment and materials. Additionally, the nuclear power industry has a history of construction delays, cost overruns, and plant cancellations, further prolonging the process.

Despite the high upfront costs, nuclear power plants are relatively cheap to operate, as fuel, operational, and maintenance costs are relatively small components of the total expense. Nuclear plants have a high capacity factor, requiring less frequent maintenance and refueling, which can improve their competitiveness in the long run. However, the initial financial barrier remains a significant challenge, often requiring government subsidies and support.

In summary, nuclear energy is expensive and time-consuming to produce due to the high capital costs of building plants and the lengthy construction process. While nuclear power has advantages in terms of reliability and competitiveness in operation, the financial and temporal obstacles pose significant challenges in the context of transitioning to cleaner energy sources.

Frequently asked questions