Nuclear Waste Storage
Nuclear waste is used to produce more nuclear substances and careful storage is mandatory because nuclear reactors have the potential to generate a high level of radioactive energy or chemical substances which are haphazard for the environment so requires safe disposal or storage. Due to these dangers, the regulations, technology, and standards are developed for safe storage/disposal of nuclear waste. However, still, it needs more attention to handle the waste more carefully to protect the environment from any sort of complications created by the exposure of nuclear radioactive compounds. In this research paper, the nuclear waste storage is explicitly discussed that is majorly a hot topic these days as exposition of nuclear radioactive chemicals are resulting to the increasing global warming rate which is reducing the quality of earth’s environment. Although, previously the nuclear waste storage concept was not common but with the passage of time as the usage was increased and a large amount of waste is produced there is a strong need to generate precautionary measures. Substantially nuclear waste storage is a scientific idea that needs more attention because radiation exposure results in health issues (neurovascular syndrome onset, gastrointestinal syndrome onset, cancer etc), soil and water contamination and radioactive decay. Contrary to this nuclear waste storage is dangerous, dirty and expensive so this should not be given more attention as it is very complicated to secure the waste for a longer period.
Since decades the usage of nuclear mass has increased up to great extent in nuclear weapons, nuclear power, medical applications, industrial applications, commercial applications, food processing and for agriculture. Consequently, with the extensive usage of nuclear mass, its waste storage has become a great challenge that requires careful attention otherwise it could have result in severe incidents that are a threat to the living things. Presently, nuclear waste storage is clearly given less attention as it is proved from the increasing level of global warming. The radiations exposed to the environment have been developing environmental pollution that is endangering wellbeing. Additionally, the radioactive waste devasting effects on human life could be measured from severe events as Chernobyl disaster (1986) lingers into mind in which around 2.5 million Ukrainians have effected as they caught severe sort of health issues due to the radioactive waste reactions which resulted in developing cancer disease (Havenaar, 2003). In addition to it, studies have demonstrated that in the Chernobyl disaster, about 56 people were killed on the site as they inhaled the chemical compound directly. Although the disaster has happened three decades ago still the dangers of radioactive radiations emitted to the environment have been observed. The subjective health of the inhabitants was affected and stress-related complaints were recorded (Havenaar, 2003). The epidemiological survey in the Gomel region adult population near the Chernobyl represents that several health complications were reported in the region in which the psychological stress was common compared with the region which was not directly exposed to the nuclear chemical substances (Havenaar, 2003). Furthermore, the consequences of ecological disaster have been recorded and occurrence of non-specific health problems was prevalent.
Moreover, the high rate of the radioactive waste that occurred in the production of plutonium in the Department of Energy (DOE) of United States Hanford in Washington is considered as one of the most dangerous by-products of the nuclear compound. In the year 2002, the department of energy has announced that they are terminating their environmental target. At that time period, the department tends to dispose and store around 90 percent of the waste (Alvarez, 2005). Moreover, they were processing the remaining waste substances through geological disposal. However, they were to close around the 177 of their tanks. The major goals of the Hanford were to speed up that most expensive and complicated environmental project the estimated expense was around $41.6 to $56.9 billion (Alvarez, 2005). Considering this step it was recorded that no other country has taken any measure like this before but the safety issues have remained unresolved. This case shows the nuclear waste storage needs more attention as the department of energy has got many failed projects that raised the question over their approach to deal with the chemical substances of nuclear. The attention is also needed in this field particularly because the suitable measures are needed regarding the Department of Energy approaches of disposal for the greater quantity of the radionuclide. Also, the high-level waste tends to develop the risk-based states. In the upcoming years, the planning of Department of Energy (DOE) needs to focus over the radiological control on the nuclear material from Hanford to the wildlife department. In this instance, the experts’ services and latest technology to handle the nuclear waste storage is really important, as the expert recommendation would be helpful in building the pilot operations (Alvarez, 2005).
However, the improper waste storage is requiring ultimate measures and resources. Another incident that occurred a few years ago in Japan in which the people working in the nuclear power plant and living in the surroundings were affected and have got high risks of nuclear radiations which eventually resulted in death and developing cancer symptoms in people along with the diseases of neurovascular syndrome onset and gastrointestinal syndrome onset. It is evident from these historical happenings that Nuclear waste storage is not been given enough recognition and yet it requires the ultimate attention to reduce the happenings of extreme events due to the nuclear compounds that might be exposed to the environment directly if not handled carefully. In this instance, the idea radioactive waste storage should be better known so that to take enough measures regarding the handling of nuclear waste. Considering the radioactive waste management the ideology is technical in its place as very keen measures would be accepted in this concern. Majorly Nuclear power is a technology that produces large-scale energy and it has the responsibility for its waste and to carefully attempt for getting the nuclear power. The waste that is generated in nuclear power is less but it could be used as a resource of generating energy, in this respect careful handling by isolating or diluting it in a way that concentration of the existing radionuclide is returned towards the biosphere. In order to do so the permanent and deep burials are needed in which the nuclear waste is stored and this way the waste is regulated properly and not causes any sort of environmental pollution (Alvarez, 2005).
On a global scale, millions of people die from cancer as its occurrence is commonly increased due to radiation exposure. In the field of medicine and to create weapon nuclear compound is used and it is unfortunate that improper nuclear waste storage gives off the dangerous level of radiations that moves into the environment in the form of waves or little particles. Too much radiation, as a result, causes cancer and death in severe cases. All this happen when the living things are directly exposed to the radiation that is emitted from the plant where nuclear is used and the likeliness in there of the diseases is more. By giving enough attention to the nuclear waste storage the world would be protected from the harms that are currently affecting the people’s lives. Development of proper regulations, technologies and accessing the expert is services is necessary in order to handle the nuclear waste as through it the upcoming dangers can be eliminated or reduced which can be a great threat towards the existence of living things in the world (Alvarez, 2005). Several persuasive myths are here that are associated with eth nuclear waste storage and these myths lead to the requirement of regulations that are counterproductive for the human safety and health. As per the investigation on the nuclear disposal system, it has been observed that there is still no proper solution to have the safe and secured system of storage for the nuclear waste. Moreover, transport of the waste is also a greater risk to the environment along with people and other living things so this field must be given more attention.
The developed countries which have more resources have to arrange significant measures in order to deal with the nuclear waste. The countries which have more nuclear power such as united states, Canada, France, Russia as well as South Korea have more nuclear power and they tend to generate more nuclear waste so there is an instant need to arrange nuclear storage system rather than exposing it directly to the environment. Nuclear waste is typically stored in the large cylinders that are made of steel and then is placed into another cylinder in order to reduce any chances of leakage. Through the protective layers of steel, the radiation is restricted t get outside and to advantage the living things. This is the most suitable method that must be spread all around where the nuclear waste storage is typical technical. This methodology is inexpensive and can be adopted in a simple way (Havenaar, 2003). In this respect, this methodology is required to be given enough attention to have been introduced and technological advancement would be added to further ensure the safety of the nuclear waste put inside the containers. The improper handling of nuclear storage results in soil and water contamination as when the nuclear waste discharged then it mixes with the soil and the water which reduces the soil quality resulting in damaging the plant growth. Moreover, the soil becomes barren due to excessive inducement of the nuclear substances. Whereas when the nuclear substances are exposed to the environment then it adds its compounds in water which harms the species of water and developed polluted water that is dangerous to the health concerns. Considering these complications there is a dire need for the development of a secured system for nuclear waste storage. The waste is normally stored in concrete and steel drums but sometimes the leakage occurs that enhances the chances of cancerous growth along with creating the genetic problems for plants as well as animals.
However, the proper storage of nuclear waste does not have any sort of negative impacts on the living things. The proper arrangement could result in creating the security shield. It could lie in the places of storage for many years without disturbing any single thing unless it becomes radioactive. Even though there are some cases which show that a little disturbance makes the waste radioactive for example when it is spread by the dust storms and reached to the areas where human and animals live along with that it results in contamination of the water. It is expected that as enough attention is given to the scientific idea of nuclear waste disposal it would result in reducing the accidents happened due to the improper handling of nuclear waste (Holdren, 1990). Also, the environment would be secured from being exposed to the chemical compounds that make it polluted and dangerous for the human, animals and plants. The full time multidisciplinary is needed to be maintained in this field as by giving focus to the safe storage of the nuclear waste the by-products could be used to treat the tumour and another dangerous disease. Along with that, the proper storage of the nuclear waste would enable the energy department to provide it to the nuclear weapons, nuclear power, medical applications, industrial applications, commercial applications, food processing and for agriculture.
The nuclear waste handling is not an easy task as it requires the huge amount of finance to get the technology through which it can be handled such as the cylinders in which it is stored along with the area where it is placed and experts who can handle it with enough care. Moreover, storage is a bit dirty and tricky side by side as to reduce the chance of radioactivity the substances are separated which could have chances of occurrence of a reaction. For example, the process in which uranium and plutonium are separated in this process a single mistake could have massive complications and drastic impacts in case any chemical reaction occurs. This is the reason the things need to be handled effectively as nuclear waste itself is sensitive to be handled. Another reason the nuclear wastes storage should not be given major attention is that risk of nuclear terrorism. The nuclear waste reprocessing is risky as through it the nuclear weapon can be easily made. These nuclear weapons can be stolen easily and then these might be used for terrorist attacks which are an alarming situation. Henceforth it is very complicated to store the nuclear waste carefully for a longer period so it is better to dispose of it rather than its storage. Regardless of the dangers that are associated with nuclear waste the scientific research has proven it is less disruptive than the fossil fuel (Holdren, 1990). In this instance, the fossil fuels should be given prior importance and attention rather than of the nuclear waste. Although to fulfil the energy needs the nuclear waste storage is much more important but it is tricky at its place a little disruption might be drastic so it should be disposed of despite storing larger waste. However, the ultimate attention should be given to the fossil fuel that is more dangerous than anything so the planning needs t be done to resolve the complications associated with the fossil fuel.
In conclusion, the nuclear waste storage is clearly not given up enough attention and this situation has raised questions in the mind of people regarding the future of this earth. The nuclear compound is used in many fields and its benefits cannot be neglected. This proves that the nuclear substances would more be used in the near future. Here the question of nuclear waste storage occurs in the mind of people. Due to the numerous benefits, the nuclear waste storage facilities must be advanced so that to reduce the chances of radioactivity that may result in damaging lining things. The historical events have shown the extreme damages nuclear reaction can make in which radiation exposure results in health issues (neurovascular syndrome onset, gastrointestinal syndrome onset, cancer etc), soil and water contamination and radioactive decay which eventually threatening the life of this earth. In this instance, the precautionary measures are needed in which the latest technology will be given to the experts through which they could better maintain the secured place of storage. A counterclaim at this stage is that despite the focus needed for storage of nuclear waste but disposal is a better option because it is very tricky to handle the nuclear waste for a longer period of time.