Nuclear Legacy Essay, Research Paper
& # 8220 ; There is 10 1000 dozenss of atomic waste on Earth. & # 8221 ; Many scientist are in
hunt for new and efficient ways to dispose of these deadly byproducts which can
destroy life itself. Radioactive merchandises can be either good or lay waste toing. It all
depends on how we use them. In the field of medical specialty, some benefit from radiation
include, radiation therapy for malignant neoplastic disease patients. Not all utilizations of radiation prove to be
good. Many use the power of the atom for destructive intents, presenting an
age of atomic warfare. It doesn & # 8217 ; t affair if we use radiation for good or bad intents,
they all contribute to the turning rate of & # 8220 ; unwanted atomic waste. & # 8221 ; The issue now is,
how do we dispose of these atomic wastes?
Scientist have thought of several methods to dispose the atomic byproducts.
They tried to chemically handle the waste and recycle it, but & # 8220 ; that would be a luck & # 8221 ; .
They thought of establishing the waste into outer infinite but it excessively will be a luck.
They tried to dump barrels filled with atomic waste into the ocean but they started
leaking. As you can see, there is a great demand for a atomic waste disposal site. These
sites may sound terrorization, but it may be the lone manner for us to dispose the
desolation we had longed to make. In 1986, the determination for a atomic waste
depositary proved to be & # 8220 ; the most awful determination of the decade. & # 8221 ; Of these sites,
three were chosen to be the & # 8220 ; most suited & # 8221 ; for the disposal of atomic byproducts.
These three sites consisted of Hanford, Washington ; Yuka Mountain, Nevada ; and
Defsmith, Texas.
Hanford, Washington is a low populated U.S. metropolis, and is owned by the
Department of Energy. A low populated metropolis is an ideal site for radioactive disposal.
Although the metropolis of Hanford is sparsely populated, geologists fear the possibility of a
atomic ooze into the Colombia river. The Columbia River is an of import factor for
the U.S. production of wheat. & # 8220 ; This makes it the worst of site, & # 8221 ; says the geologist. If
the Colombia River is contaminated with atomic waste, it will take to the taint
of land environing the big organic structure of H2O, therefore doing land unserviceable. Radioactive
taint of the Colombia river will impact both America & # 8217 ; s economic system and
agricultural production.
Yuka mountain, Nevada is a to a great extent guarded desert part of America. It is far
off from any lakes, rivers, or oceans, and its depository is located above land H2O
degrees. These geological conditions make Yuka mountain an about perfect topographic point for
atomic waste disposal to take topographic point. This is due to the possibilities of temblors
happening rather often within this country. It is said by the geologist that & # 8220 ; if an
temblor was likely to happen, it will merely agitate the atomic stuffs, non plenty to
do them leak. & # 8221 ; Yuka mountain is unluckily located 70 stat mis from Las Vegas,
Nevada, a widely known tourer attractive force. Therefore doing Yuka mountain an unsound
topographic point for atomic disposal.
Defsmith, Texas is known as the & # 8220 ; most productive metropolis in Texas & # 8221 ; . The husbandmans
from Defsmith rely on the Ogallala aquifer as a beginning of H2O for agricultural growing.
If a radioactive disposal
site is created in this metropolis, a big pipe widening through the
Ogallala aquifer will hold to be built, therefore endangering the rich and fertile farming area. The
building of a disposal site will besides impact the familial purity of the seeds which
husbandmans waited so long to obtain. So much value will be lost if a disposal site were to be
created in Defsmith, doing it non deserving finishing.
If I was a member of the Department of Energy and had to take one of these
sites, I would hold to take Yuka mountain, Nevada for its ideal geological
conditions. This country is widely uninhabited and does non present a danger to the land
H2O supply. If temblors occur, non much would go on, as the geologist stated.
Although Yuka mountain is 70 stat mis from Las Vegas, I would seek to hold the metropolis
evacuated and moved to a more safeguarded location. therefore doing Yuka mountain the
& # 8220 ; most dependable & # 8221 ; atomic waste disposal site of the three.
If I was a member of the Department of Energy and could non in good
witting choose one of these three sites, I would suggest a program to establish atomic
waste-filled lead capsules into an country in outer infinite with high degrees of natural
radiation. Although it may be a luck, any monetary value is worth salvaging the Earth. I believe
that by establishing these capsules into infinite, our Earth will be left unaffected and free
from the possibility of escape. ( As by making disposal sites, the Earth is still at hazard
from a possible radioactive leak ) . If we launch these pellets to countries in infinite with high
natural radiation, a leak in the pellet will non be every bit black as a leak happening on
Earth. The radiation being emitted from the capsule will so unite with the beginning
of natural radiation, ensuing in a impersonal reaction, and will non hold an affect on our
planet.
If I were a member in one of these communities, I would take the Department
of energy to tribunal, because they have no right to take away any of the rights we are
entitled to as citizens of America. Second of all, I would petition to the authorities
that we have the building of these disposal sites to be halted, as they endanger the
lives of many Americans. Last, I would inquire the Department of energy to happen another
solution to this & # 8220 ; Nuclear Legacy & # 8221 ; .
I have learned that we must ever take duty for our actions. In this
instance, those who have decided to make radioactive merchandises lacked the duty to
dispose of them. The effects ensuing from our deficiency of duty is utterly
lay waste toing. It is scaring how our new creative activities and finds can be so
destructive despite their benefits.
I was so inspired from this picture. I will make all I can to assist cut down
radioactive pollution by the beginning. Through the picture, I saw how unsafe atomic
waste can be to the environment, and how it affects our full planet, non merely as
persons.
The dust left from the bombardment of Hiroshima, Japan had a great impact on
me. I was heartbroken by the sight of the many people who were killed and those who
were left to decease. It is exhaustively frustrating to see how one find, the find of
the atom, had changed the manner we view the universe today.