Cons
Safety is the main disadvantage found in the use of nuclear
energy since there have been accidents such as those of Chernobyl
and Fukushima. Nuclear waste management. Expiration of reactors,
which requires the construction of new ones. High investment of
money Dependence on uranium. (“Advantages and disadvantages of
nuclear energy”, 2023). Although nuclear energy has the potential
to be a strong and effective source of electricity, there are
several significant problems. What to do with the residual garbage
is one of the main problems. The fuel used in the
majority of nuclear reactors, uranium-235, decomposes over time to
create extremely radioactive materials such as strontium, iodine,
and plutonium (Botkin & Keller, 2011). The challenge of carefully
storing these extremely toxic elements for thousands of years is no
easy one. Furthermore, there are safety hazards associated with
running a nuclear power plant that call for ongoing attention to
detail. The risk of nuclear power was dramatically highlighted by
the terrible 2011 earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan. Three
meltdowns occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station
after the accident seriously damaged the cooling systems.
Radioactive content was leaked into the environment and ocean as a
result. Thankfully, no one died and there were no reported instances
of radiation sickness. Regardless, as a precautionary measure,
nearly 100,000 people had to leave behind their homes and families.
A grim reminder that even our advanced technology can fall prey when
nature strikes. For those who want to keep themselves updated, the
World Nuclear Association still offers details about the Fukushima
accident (Beckrich, Amanda). “The Pros and Cons of Nuclear Energy.”
The Science Teacher (National Science Teachers Association), vol.
80, no. 3, 2013, pp. 10-. The cost of nuclear energy is a matter of
debate. Nuclear energy is preferred because it is one of the
cheapest energy sources in electricity generation. However, the cost
of nuclear energy is not limited to the cost of energy production.
The environmental cost of nuclear power also needs to be considered.
The cost of nuclear energy is high due to its environmental effects.
In addition, the construction of nuclear energy requires high costs.
But the environmental cost is not limited to nuclear energy. Due to
their devastating effects on the ecosystem, fossil fuels also have a
high environmental cost. The environmental cost of nuclear energy
emerges as an important problem in the event of an accident in
nuclear power plants. As mentioned earlier, one of the most
important risks of nuclear
power plants is the environmental problems that arise in the event
of a possible accident, namely radioactive pollution." Nuclear power
plants are built and operated by taking high safety precautions.
Despite all safety precautions, it is not possible to eliminate the
risk of an accident. (Akyuz, 2023).