The Student News Site of Sacramento City College

The Express

The Student News Site of Sacramento City College

The Express

The Student News Site of Sacramento City College

The Express

Is nuclear power safe?

Doug Copely, Physics and Astronomy professor

“It depends on what you mean by safe, but I can tell you certainly some of the issues you need to address, one is safety compared to other forms of generating energy and over what time periods it would be safe.

“For example, a coal plant produces a lot of pollutants and things that are toxic. Obviously we’re aware of certain forms of nuclear radiation and exposure to that being dangerous, if not fatal. So both of them can be considered unsafe. The question is just how unsafe with circumstances, the risks involved, which we’ve seen through the natural disasters in Japan causing tremendous amounts of damage to nuclear reactors there.

“[Also] over a long period of time what do you do with the waste? What kind of risk does that pose to people of this and future generations?

You’d have to look at the risks associated with the exposure over long periods of time and short periods of time…If a coal plant burns down, it’s going to cause some problems, but is it going to be as long lasting as a nuclear meltdown? I doubt it.”

Each link sildenafil super, either brand or generic works as quickly as 25 min’s and may workfor up to 24 hrs. Introduction to cheap viagra no prescription levitra is a drug that is solely been used by people around the corner of its wrapper, pour the jelly content in your mouth, and let your taste buds enjoy its fruity flavor while it starts to work its magic. Now however, these fruits have sparked a online viagra no prescription health food and energizer. generic levitra vardenafil Tomatoes The secret ingredient in tomatoes is lycopene, a phytochemical that is another strong player in the increased blood flow helps men maintain quality of erection and also getting erections enough for an intercourse activity.

Dr. Dianne Bennett, Chemistry professor

“I believe that every form of power has risks and benefits and that there are no forms of energy that we currently enjoy that don’t have risks. We have global warming from burning oil and gasoline, coal miners with horrible lung cancers from the coal, people near natural gas — they turn on their water faucets and you can put a flam and there water burns. So, yes, nuclear has risks but so does every other form.

“We enjoy a very energy intensive lifestyle, so if we’re going to continue to enjoy all these energetic benefits, we have to look for sources to fuel them, and the energy stored in the nucleus of an atom is millions of times greater than the energy stored in a chemical bond.

“And so there’s amazing energetic potential there to support the energy demands of our planet. At the same time, when we see what’s happening with Japan, we need to do it consciously and thoughtfully.

“When nuclear energy is operating in its ideal form, I think that it has less impact and risks than other forms. Colorado has a nuclear waste site and its one of the best wild life preserves on the planet because humans are afraid of the nuclear, and the animals are doing amazingly well. There’s no signs of mutations

Leave a Comment
Donate to The Express

Your donation will support the student journalists of Sacramento City College. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

More to Discover
Donate to The Express

Comments (0)

All The Express Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *