Chapter 20 Assessment of radiation pollution from nuclear power plants

Jibran Iqbal
Fares M. Howari
Abdel-Mohsen O. Mohamed
Evan K. Paleologos

Document Type

Book Chapter

Source of Publication

Pollution Assessment for Sustainable Practices in Applied Sciences and Engineering

Publication Date

1-1-2021

Abstract

Nuclear power plants split uranium atoms in a process called fission. In a nuclear power plant, heat is generated to produce steam that spins a turbine to generate electricity. Nuclear energy has been proposed in response to the need for a clean energy source compared to CO2 production plants. However, nuclear energy is not necessarily a source of clean energy as nuclear power plants release small amounts of greenhouse emissions in activities related to building and running the plant. Moreover, even if all safety measures are followed, there is no guarantee that an accident will not occur in a nuclear power plant. In the case of an accident involving a nuclear power plant, the environment and the people around it may be exposed to high levels of radiation. Another important environmental problem related to nuclear energy is the generation of radioactive waste that can remain radioactive and dangerous to human health for thousands of years. There are also several issues with burying the radioactive waste. Here, we describe different types of radioactive waste pollution from nuclear power plants, their environmental effects, nuclear regulations, and nuclear power plant incidents. Moreover, two case studies on nuclear power plant accidents and their consequences are discussed.

Publisher

Elsevier

First Page

1027

Last Page

1053

Disciplines

Life Sciences

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no

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