Radiation
By: Shea and Pratik
What is Radiation?
Radiation is the by-product of nuclear power, nuclear waste. Like all other things, radiation has its pros and its cons.
Chernobyl Disaster
Chernobyl was an example of how radiation is destructive in nature. Even though only two people died from the immediate blast, over 7 million people were affected from the radiation afterwards.
Hiroshima
Hiroshima was the first incident in human history where atomic bombs were used in warfare. Claiming 146,000 lives, and affecting many more through radiation.
Fukushima
After the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the Fukushima Daiichi power plant leaked radiation into the Pacific Ocean. As you can see from the radiation map, the radiation reached the west coast after ten days. This is an example of how far radiation spreads in such little time.
Nagasaki
After Hiroshima was bombed, Nagasaki was next. This time there were 80,000 casualties.
Windscale Fire (Sellafield), UK
The worst nuclear disaster in Great Britain’s history occurred on the 10th October, 1957 and ranked at level 5 on the INES scale, The Windscale Fire. The two piles had been hurriedly built as part of the British atomic bomb project. The first pile was active from October 1950 with the second close behind in June 1951.
Plug-in Hybrids
Research is under way to reduce air emissions from the transportation sector by developing electric vehicles that can run farther and longer between charges. Clean electricity from nuclear plants can make these vehicles truly "clean."
Jobs
One reactor creates up to 3,500 jobs at peak construction.A new nuclear energy facility creates 500 permanent jobs per 1,000 megawatts of electricity generating capacity, compared to 190 jobs for a coal plant, 50 for a wind farm and 50 for a natural gas plant.
Reliable Electricity
Nuclear energy facilities generate electricity 24/7 at a 92 percent capacity factor. This is more efficient than other types of energy—combined-cycle natural gas, with a 47.8 percent capacity factor; coal-fired at 60.9 percent; and wind at 33.9 percent.
Renewable
Nuclear energy is not renewable resource. Uranium, the nuclear fuel that is used to produced nuclear energy is limited and cannot be produced again and again on demand. On the other hand, by using breeder and fusion reactors, we can produce other fissionable element.
Therapy
To treat a cancer and attempt to prevent a recurrence by eliminating a tumor.
As a palliative treatment when eliminating the tumor is not possible. (Palliative radiation therapy is intended to relieve pain, pressure and other symptoms by shrinking the tumor.)
Before surgery to help shrink the tumor.
After surgery to treat any remaining cancer cells.
In combination with chemotherapy treatment.
As a palliative treatment when eliminating the tumor is not possible. (Palliative radiation therapy is intended to relieve pain, pressure and other symptoms by shrinking the tumor.)
Before surgery to help shrink the tumor.
After surgery to treat any remaining cancer cells.
In combination with chemotherapy treatment.
Agriculture
Radiation has increased the production and volume of grain and cereals. How? Stalks of these crops are labeled with radioactive isotopes increasing their growth, this use of radioactivity is helping to relieve famine in third world countries.
Opinion
I believe the pros outweigh the cons of Radiation. With the proper precautions, the cons can be prevented or stopped completely. Without radiation, we would be missing out on thousands of jobs, a cleaner environment, a form of reliable electricity, and therapy for cancer.