by Paulette Redemske

Created on: February 05, 2008   Last Updated: October 22, 2011

Nuclear power has not been around long enough to know all the effects it will cause in the future. Once again we are on the threshold of a relativity new science, ready to jump in with both feet without taking a breath.

We now know that coal and oil add pollutants to the air, which are carbon dioxide (air), Nitrous oxides (air), and particular dust (air). In turn these pollutants cause global warming, smog and cancers plus other respiratory problems.

We know that nuclear power has its pollutants also, the obvious are, radioactive waste (liquid or solid), radiation leaks (air), and heat emissions (water). These pollutants are such as the waste are very difficult to get rid of, any leaks cause radiation, the heat emission in water is often times released into streams and rivers, growing alga which would be incompatible to any of the indigenous aquatic life-forms of the area.

While fossil fuels offer technical problems, nuclear also offers technical problems which far outweight those of fossil fuels. A good example is that of hostile nations, terrorists and the like. We have already experienced the horror or 9/11, what would have happened if those targets had been nuclear reactors instead? Are we ready for more private armies to defend nuclear power plants in a world now overrun with tensions?

Accidents happen all the time. Sometimes they can be avoided other times they cannot. Potential accidents occur when a problem goes unnoticed, and that has happened with numerous nuclear power plants.

Can a safe reactor even be built? No. It has been suggested that Potassium iodide (KI) be kept on hand should a radiation emergency arise due to exposure from natural or terrorist activities. KI is a blocker of radioiodide which seems to be drawn to the thyroid gland causing cancer of that gland as well as radiation sickness.

Beside fossil fuels we can learn to develop wind power. It is a clean renewable source of energy. Still new, undoubtedly there will be problems, however they will be technical and not life-threatening. From Denmark to Australia, to the United States, wind farms are showing up. These farms can be in the water or on land. Plus on land, they take up less space besides being friendly to the environment they are set up on.

It is interesting to note that while I was traveling south in Indiana, along Hwy. 65, I noticed windmills generating power to their rest areas! Every little bit helps, even with research!

Hydro power is one of the oldest forms of producing

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