The use of nuclear power has been under debate for many years; with issues such as environmental impact, safety, cost, waste management, and efficiency, the cons clearly outweigh the pros. Nuclear power plants have been supplying electricity to the population for nearly 60 years, but all things must come to an end as better options emerge and humanity develops as a species. It 's only natural for things to become outdated, or be replaced by better options as they become available. Nuclear power is a source of energy, created through a reaction when a uranium atom is split, releasing heat that is used to produce electricity. It was initially used as an alternative to coal, as coal-burning facilities were becoming a hazard to the environment.
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The Chernobyl disaster in 1986 was one of the worst nuclear accidents in history. Many of the harmful effects can still be seen today, almost 30 years after the incident. The main cause of the accident was a flaw in the reactor 's design, which resulted in an explosion releasing large quantities of radioactive particles into the atmosphere. You may think that with an increase in safety measures and more careful attention to building and design that we can avoid further tragedies, but unfortunately not all disaster is caused by human neglect. The major tsunami that took place in Japan in 2011 led to equipment failures and in turn caused three meltdowns at the Fukushima Power Plant, resulting in the release of radioactive material. It was the biggest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl, and nothing could have been done to prevent it, as there is no stopping nature. Then, in any extreme natural event, there is a risk of damage to a plant 's structure or contents, which could easily result in a release of contaminants. Nuclear energy has immense power, and it 's not surprising that that power can be harvested in a detrimental way. There is no remedy for the effects of radiation, which can cause cancer, genetic mutations, and a drastically shorter life expectancy. Given this, nuclear power plants are a prime target for acts of terrorism. A little negligence in security could be devastating for
The Chernobyl disaster in 1986 was one of the worst nuclear accidents in history. Many of the harmful effects can still be seen today, almost 30 years after the incident. The main cause of the accident was a flaw in the reactor 's design, which resulted in an explosion releasing large quantities of radioactive particles into the atmosphere. You may think that with an increase in safety measures and more careful attention to building and design that we can avoid further tragedies, but unfortunately not all disaster is caused by human neglect. The major tsunami that took place in Japan in 2011 led to equipment failures and in turn caused three meltdowns at the Fukushima Power Plant, resulting in the release of radioactive material. It was the biggest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl, and nothing could have been done to prevent it, as there is no stopping nature. Then, in any extreme natural event, there is a risk of damage to a plant 's structure or contents, which could easily result in a release of contaminants. Nuclear energy has immense power, and it 's not surprising that that power can be harvested in a detrimental way. There is no remedy for the effects of radiation, which can cause cancer, genetic mutations, and a drastically shorter life expectancy. Given this, nuclear power plants are a prime target for acts of terrorism. A little negligence in security could be devastating for