Negatively Affected By Nuclear Power

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The second way that nuclear energy has negatively affected the planet is through nuclear power. The power produced in a power plant is made from energy heating up water by either burning fossil fuels (coal for example), or creating a nuclear fission. That heated water makes steam, and that steam spins a generator that makes electricity (“Nuclear”). There are many more complicated steps in the process, but the general idea is pretty simple. Unfortunately, as easy as it may sound, nuclear power isn't all good. Creating nuclear power negatively affects the planet in a number of ways. First of all, nuclear power is expensive. Radiation procedures, and safety regarding generators makes finding the right materials, suits, men and machines to actually …show more content…
The risks are deadly, expensive, and at times unknown. Furthermore, power plants take a very long time to build. Dangerous working conditions, long term health effects, and potentially lethal doses of radiation are also found in power plants (Buzz). After water is used by the power plant, it is released back into its source, except that now the water is heated. Heated water does not contain as much oxygen as regular water, and as a result, sea animals living in water near power plants are harmed, and sea animals ironically “drown” because not enough oxygen is flowing through the water. Uranium is usually the main source of energy used in making the power, and uranium is finite, just as coal, oil, petroleum are (Buzz). Not many good things come out of the process of making nuclear power, and while many people may disagree with this now, when another disaster occurs, and another hundred thousand people have to be evacuated, hopefully the planet will have learned its …show more content…
About 100,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes because of the radiation from the plants (“Fukushima”). According to Steven Starr, a senior scientist and board member of Physicians for Social Responsibility, and an associate for the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Fukushima officials said that 159,128 people had to be evicted, leaving homes, businesses, and lives behind. An estimate regarding the total amount of money lost in the accident ranges from 250 billion to 500 billion US dollars, a lot of money for a country that had recently had a prime minister step down, and was just becoming accustomed to new leadership