Nuclear+Power

Jobe Naff, Kabbour Rizq, Gil Gonzalez, Daniel Quach Biochemistry 2 (Gold)

**__Nuclear Power__**

__Abstract__

Nuclear energy is a new yet rapidly growing field of technology and opportunity. Nuclear energy is most commonly made from Uranium-235, a man-altered and engineered form of Uranium (sometimes found in nature but rarely). Currently, a number of 1st world countries are using nuclear energy.

Nuclear energy is dangerous, and although the common images of American fiction and Hiroshima strike our minds this is not what actually happens. However, the opposite is far from the truth when a nuclear problem occurs. There are only three types of nuclear problems: the devastating ones, the ones that were contained, and those that don't happen. So, of course, this is a very sensitive topic when approached. In spite of this, many countries are now embracing nuclear energy’s benefits hand in hand. All in all, in spite of the possible affects, it is just too good of a deal to pass up on. Plus, there are copious amounts of the fuel for nuclear power without any large amounts of waste, yet that waste can cause serious health issues, ranging from cancers, organ failure, mental instabilities, and a whole assortment of other issues. Yet, when properly contained, these issues rarely occur.

We don't hold any real stand on the issue. However, we believe that nuclear power should be properly regulated. When it's not, we're not for it, after we doubt many would want another possible case of Chernobyl. However when properly regulated, even freak accidents can be avoided as shown in the case of Long Island, where a terrible meltdown almost occurred. Ultimately our stance varies depending on how it's managed through the impact caused by that level of management.

__Background__

Nuclear energy is made from Uranium-235 and produces waste called Plutonium-239. Nuclear energy is 16% of the world’s energy source. Nuclear energy also produces little pollution. International relations do not affect this energy source because Uranium is found almost everywhere in the world. Production of nuclear power is one of the safest ways to produce energy, if precautions are taken effectively. Currently, 56 countries use nuclear energy, but here are the top users: China, South Korea, Japan, Canada, America, Europe, Russia, and the United Kingdom.

__Chemistry__

1.) //Common Products that Contain Uranium//: a. Pottery in America b. Salt substitute c. Smoke detectors d. Spark plugs e. Vaseline Glass f. Glow in the dark watches g. Tritium glow lights h. Neon lights i. Vacuum tubes

2.) //Where It’s Found//: a. Canada b. United States of America c. Brazil d. Niger e. Jordan f. Ukraine g. Uzbekistan h. Russia i. China j. India k. Kazakhstan l. Australia m. South Africa n. Namibia

3.) //How It’s Made//: a. In order to use Uranium, you must concentrate and purify the raw element. There are two ways to do this: i. __Ion Exchange__: Between two electrolytes or a complex with an electrolyte solution, you exchange ions. Ion exchanging indicates purification, fission, and decontamination of solution containing ions by use of ion exchangers. These exchangers are polymeric/mineralic. ii. __Solvent Extraction__: Also known as partitioning, this is where compounds are separated based on their ability to dissolve in immiscible liquids. A substance is extracted from one liquid phase and transferred into another phase.

Plutonium

Uranium

Uranium

[] (Go to 'Identified Uranium Resources (RAR + Inferred - $130/kg U)

__Human Health Implications__

Possible dangers from nuclear energy include high amounts of radiation, different types of cancer (leukemia, breast, bladder, colon, liver, lung, esophagus, ovarian, stomach, prostate, nasal cavity or sinuses, pancreatic), hereditary effects, and cell and genetic mutations. In low doses of radiation it can be useful, like killing foreign agents in the body, chemotherapy, and X-Rays. However, in high doses, radiation can increase rates of cancer and can affect every single body system (cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine, excretory, immune, muscular, nervous, reproductive, respiratory, and skeletal). Humans have been exposed to radiation since the beginning of their time because radiation is mostly natural. Radiation comes from space, the earth, and man-made products.

__Environmental/Economic/Political Implications__

If a fallout from a nuclear power plant occurs, the living organisms within the radius of the exposure either die or experience cell mutations. Nuclear power produces nuclear waste, which is stored underground in man-made storage tunnels, such as one under the Yucca Mountain. There are two types of radioactive waste: low level and high level. The low-level material can take anywhere from 10-50 years to degrade/decay into safe, normal refuse. The high-level material can take 100,000 years or more for the half-lives of the isotopes to decay. The storage for this long-term waste is still under political debate.

If nuclear power were to be banned, dependence on foreign resources (from the stand point of the U.S.) would decrease. Even though Uranium can be found almost everywhere in the world, there are places where Uranium is more abundant. Pollution would be unchanged and unaffected, as producing nuclear energy is one of the energy-producing methods that have the lowest amount of pollution emissions. Spending would increase. As other methods of producing energy, like water, solar, and wind, haven’t been perfected yet, the cost of producing prototypes for alternatives would be enormous. Simply, the ramifications for banning the production of nuclear energy would be great.

If the production of nuclear energy were to be discontinued, we would not have smoke detectors, watches, alarm clocks, certain types of glass, and effective fertilizers. This would affect the average American greatly, as these are very common household items. The topic of nuclear energy is highly debated upon in the politics of America. Of the many things debated on are the regulations of power plants, disposal of nuclear waste, and the health of people exposed to higher amounts of radiation.

__Summary__

Nuclear energy is an expensive yet profitable source of energy and technological advancements. However, as with many other pieces of modern technology, our bodies are not developed to directly deal with the effects of nuclear radiation, and, in these cases, must be handled carefully and sparingly when direct human confrontation is involved, as the direct affects of nuclear radiation are dangerous. In the end, it is how properly regulation is enforced that decides whether or not to go with nuclear energy and equipment.

Nuclear energy is powerful and very useful; this has been proven by numerous superpowers in the world such as France, Russia, the U.S., and, soon, China. These great benefits carry great risks and so as to our answer, a final conclusion cannot be drawn without first looking at how well it is managed. In a well-regulated society, nuclear energy is an excellent choice. However in an unregulated society, one should very carefully consider the possible implications and attempt to decrease the risks of problems caused by nuclear power/equipment.

__Citations__

1.) Lai, Leslie. "Nuclear Energy Fact Sheet." //Nuclear Energy Fact Sheet//. //Nuclear Age Peace Foundation//. Web. 8 Mar. 2010. . a. []

2.) Mary Elvira Weeks, Discovery of the Elements., (2003) p56. Kessinger Publishing Co. a. []

3.) "Plutonium." //Plutonium//. World Nuclear Association, Mar. 2009. Web. 8 Mar. 2010. . a. []

4.) //Global Security//. John Pike, 27 Apr. 2005. Web. 9 Mar. 2010. . a. []

5.) //WISE//. World Information Service on Energy, 21 Dec. 2009. Web. 9 Mar. 2010. . a. []

6.) //Radioactive Products and Other Sources Of Radiation//. Black Cat Systems, 4 Apr. 2002. Web. 9 Mar. 2010. . a. []

7.) //U.S. NRC//. United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 30 Apr. 2009. Web. 9 Mar. 2010. . a. []