FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCE

PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
(FSG500)

TITLE: “NUCLEAR ENERGY AS AN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCE TO MALAYSIA - IS IT

MORE ETHICAL TO USE IT OR TO BAN IT”

NAME: NOR EDAYU BT HAMZAH

KP UiTM: 2007285584

HP NO.: 019-3691194

PROGRAMME: AS226

GROUP: ASB3F1

E-MAIL: momo_missdevochki113@yahoo.com
 “Nuclear Energy as an Alternative Energy Source to Malaysia – Is It More Ethical To Use It or
To Ban It”

According to the title of this article, it seems to be a serious issue. We have to think
about it very deeply before deciding an ethical decision to state that whether we have to ban it
or use it. Before that, let’s become familiar with the nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is the
energy that uses up uranium or plutonium as its sources to produce heat. It will undergo the
process of nuclear fission chain reaction. Nuclear energy is controlled from one of two types of
reactions, which is fission and fusion. The fission wills results on the creation of new and smaller
atoms as a byproduct, radiation and more neutrons. Those neutrons creating a chain reaction
by speeding out and strike other uranium or plutonium atoms. This chain reaction is varying
depending on the design of reactor in the reaction. It is controlled by the neutron moderators.
The nuclear reactor produce electricity by the heat released from this reaction. The electricity
that produces is exactly same as other thermal-based power plant. Water converts into steam
by heat and the heat used to runs the moderator.

The nuclear energy plant generates electricity from nuclear energy. In a specific manner,
the nuclear reactor converts the heat energy generated from nuclear fission to electricity. The
moderators which are cool the fuel rods capture the heat. Moderator is also important in prevent
them from melting. The common moderator used is pressurized water. It is because it has a
high capacity to absorb heat. The pressurized water moves from primary loop to the secondary
loop through a heat exchanger. The water from the secondary loop will drives a turbine as a
steam in a heat engine. The steams are often seen as evaporating from the large cooling towers
of the nuclear plants. The use of nuclear energy as an alternative energy sources have to think
as we have to build the nuclear power plant. There are of course the advantages and
disadvantages in built the nuclear power plant. I would like to discuss about the advantages and
disadvantages of the nuclear energy before state my opinion.

The use of nuclear energy is said to be an environment-friendly. It means that nuclear

energy gives little pollution to our environment. How it is contributed to the clean of our
environment? The use of nuclear energy does not involve in fossil fuel burning. Fossil fuel-
burning plants cause pollution to our air. This is due to the carbon dioxide produce from the
fossil fuel burning. This would effect our depletion of protective layer, ozone. The byproducts
from fossil fuel-burning plants may produce sulfur which is absorbed into clouds and become
sulfuric acid. Therefore there is little contribution to our environment. In this case, it more similar
to the solar, wind, geothermal and hydropower that is clean for our environment.

The productions of carbon dioxide by the nuclear power-plants are minimal. According to
the Nuclear Energy Institute, the power produce by the world’s nuclear plants would normally
produce 2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide per year if they depended on fossil fuels. In fact,
properly functioning nuclear power plant actually release less radioactive into the atmosphere
than a coal fired power plant (source: Hvistedendahl). In the other hand, nuclear reactors do not
emits greenhouse gas, in more specific carbon dioxide. It do not effects on the climate change.
The world reserves of fossil fuels are running out. The sulfurous coal is more polluting
compared to the coal that was previously used. The plant also burns anthracite. The anthracite
is also has been used up. The pollution will increase as the more soft coals are used. In fact,
fossil fuel will burned up within fifty years. The new breeder reactors can produce more fuels
than the use. This means that there are large reserves of uranium. Therefore, the use of fossil
fuel burning can be changed into used of nuclear power-plant that clearly can gives little
pollution. Besides, the greenhouse gas effect can be reduced. As countries that look after for
the clean alternatives to current energy sources, nuclear energy may help in achieving their
targets states under the Kyoto Protocol which created the legally average greenhouse gas
emission reductions between 6 to 8 percent below 1990 levels between the years 2008-2012 for
many countries (UNFCC, 2009).

Another advantage of the using nuclear power-plant is safety. Safety can be both pro
and con. In a side of pro, nuclear power-plant will produce energy by a safest method. There is
no serious injured due to the reactor incidence or radiation exposure. The safety mechanisms
that have used make the chances of reactor accident are vary low. A series of barriers used to
separates the radiation and heat of reactor core from outside. The thick concrete wall surrounds
the pressure vessel. This is inside the sealed steel containment structure. The plant is also built
with large number of sensors that pick up increases in radiation and humidity. Increases of
radiation and humidity could mean there is a leak. The system in these plants will control and
stop the chain reaction if necessary. An Emergency Core Cooling System ensures there is
enough cooling water to control the reactor in case of an accident.

Nuclear energy is independence energy and reliability. Nuclear fuels are derived from
uranium and plutonium. Uranium is exists as one of the several isotope in nature whereas
plutonium is created as byproduct of nuclear fission process. There is another possibly nuclear
fuel, thorium. The replacement of oil burning power to the nuclear power-plant can helping in
achieving energy independence. Nuclear power-plant needs little fuel. It is less vulnerable to
natural disasters. International relations will have little effect on the supply fuel to reactor
because uranium is deposited around the globe.

Radon exposure can cause by the nuclear power-plant. The uranium mining will leaves
the residues from chemical processing of the ore. However, these effects do not outweigh the
benefits that mining uranium out of the ground reduces future radon exposures. Coal burning
leaves ashes. These ashes will increase the radon exposures. The estimates of radon show
that it is safer to use nuclear fuel than burn coal. The ashes from coal-burning plant will cause
30 deaths whereas mining the fuel required to operate a nuclear plant for one year will avert a
few hundred deaths.

As discuss before, nuclear safety can be pro and con. In the aspect of con, this is
categorizing as the disadvantage of nuclear energy-plant will lead to a meltdown. The loss of
control over the fission chain reaction would be cause a nuclear accident. Nuclear accident will
lead to extremely hazardous. The heat produce will be faster the ability of reactor coolant to
cope. This will cause the nuclear reaction. From this, system failure will release radioactivity into
environment. In the case of an extreme failure, the result is more hazardous which nuclear
meltdown is. Meltdown is the reacting nuclear material burns or melts its way through it
containment vessel into the ground and water table. This would result a huge cloud of
radioactive steam and debris into the atmosphere. It has a potential to release radioactivity over
an extremely large area. A major case could result in fallout being spread worldwide. There was
the worst case of nuclear disaster in 1986 at the Chernobyl facility in Ukraine. A fire ripped apart
the casing of the core releasing radioactive isotopes into the atmosphere. Thirty-one people
died as an immediate result. In addition, 15000 more died in the surrounding area after
exposure to the radiation. This is the example of the serious problems that meltdown can
create.

Radiation is the other disadvantage of nuclear power-plant. Radiation can cause

radiation sickness. But if this large amount of radiation is receive all at once. If all power that we
use is come from nuclear plants, we would receive an extra 2/10 of millirem a year. The three
major effects of radiation which is cancer, radiation sickness and genetic mutation are
untraceable at levels below 50 rems. Nuclear power-plant annually generates 20 metric tons of
used nuclear fuel. It is classified as high-level radioactive waste. All of the waste emits radiation
and heat which would corrode any container and can prove lethal to nearby life forms. Besides,
nuclear power-plants produce a great deal of low-level radioactive waste in form of radiated
parts and equipment. Eventually, spent nuclear fuel will decay to safe radioactive level, but it
takes tens of thousands of years. The nuclear industry lets waste to cool for years before mixing
it glass and storing it in massive cooled, concrete structure. Nuclear waste can lead a problem.
When something goes wrong, in mean of improper functioning nuclear power-plant the situation
will turn into a sudden event that cause many people to suffer. In a study of 1000000 survivors
of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there have been 400 more cancer
deaths than normal and a genetic disease found in their children.

Radioactive waste disposal is one of the problems that can be list down under the
disadvantages of nuclear power-plants. The waste from nuclear energy has to be carefully
looked after. The byproduct from the fission of uranium will remains radioactive for thousand
years. It is requiring safe disposal away from society until they loss their significant radiation
values. Many underground sites have been constructed only to be filled within months. The
storage facilities are not enough to store the world’s nuclear waste. It is limited to the amount of
nuclear fuel that can be used per year. Furthermore, transportation of the waste is risk. For
addition, variables way affect the containment vessels during the transportation. If one of these
vessels were compromised, the result may be deadly. Nuclear wastes are a life-threatening
legacy for hundreds of future generations. It contradicts with the thoughts of sustainability if
future generations have to deal with dangerous waste generated from preceding generations.
Uranium is available only in limited quantities. Uranium is being consumed during operation of
nuclear power-plant. Therefore, it won’t be available any more for future generation.

The last disadvantage to be discussed is the costs and time-consumed of the nuclear
power-plant. The time frame needed for formalities, planning and building of a new nuclear
power generation plant is in the range of 20 to 30 years. It is impossible to build a new power-
plant in a short time. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, nuclear energy will cost an
estimated $59.30/MWH. This is expensive when compared to other means of generating
electricity. There is an assumption that the nuclear energy will have a hidden cost such as the
support for the decommissioning plants and insurance guarantees. Other than that, the nuclear
power-plant has to consider with the safety costs and environment costs. It may also have to
include an extremely large in investments and applied research.

Based on the advantages and disadvantages that had been discussed earlier, I would
like to state my disagreement on the nuclear power-plant to be built in our country. This is the
effect of disadvantages of nuclear energy is more hazardous not only to our environment but
also to the public rather than the advantages that it can provide. From the given pro and con of
nuclear power-plant, it should be enough evidence that nuclear energy is not the solution for
any problems. It is the source of many further problems. After all, nuclear power-plant boasts a
number of advantages as well as its share of negatives. As for disadvantages, nuclear fuel may
not produce C02 but it does provide other problems. Mining and purifying uranium hasn’t been a
very clean process. It is opened to other risk. Once it’s contaminate or spent, it must be throw in
the city dump. It’s still a radioactive. These also can contribute to the global warming even more
badly. I think that must be the other way which is more pure and clean also safely than nuclear
energy. We can use other method which is more suitable to our country such as hydropower.
Therefore, it is still not enough evidence to say that the nuclear power-plant itself can
contributing in global warming solution.

There is of course safety are the most important. But we have to think how long the
safety of this plant can last. As we know that the plant are controlled by the systems that
whenever can confront with the problems. There is a risk on it. The failure system can lead to
the other problem such as time to fix it and if needed, the plant has to stop for a safety. These
clearly show that the nuclear power-plant cause a high risks. Even though a generally high
security standard has provided, accidents can still happen. It is impossible to build a plant with
100% security. Even a small probability of failure will always last; the consequences of an
accident could be devastating both in human and nature. The more nuclear energy plant are
built, the probability of a disastrous failure will be higher somewhere in the world.

Furthermore, I think that it is not worth to cost only for the nuclear power-plant. This is
expensive compared to the other generating electricity. In addition, how long the nuclear fuels
can support the world use. It cans only remains for about next 30 to 60 years. Unfortunately, this
doesn’t mean that we have an endless supply of the fuels. So that, when run out of these two
fuels breeder reactions will cease to be useful.

Too much of energy and overheats from fission can cause a nuclear meltdown.
Meltdown causes damage to the surrounding structures and releasing radiation into the
environment. The malfunction of the structures surrounding the nuclear reactor is also can
cause a meltdown. These will lead to the radiation leaks. If these occur, the magnitude of the
harm is enormous. The studied had been show that there are possible leaks. A recent German
study found that children under the age of five living less than five kilometers from nuclear plant
had twice the risk for contracting leukemia as those residing more than five kilometers
(Nussbaum, 2009). This may be come from the water being used to drive the turbines that may
contain low levels of radiation which may inadvertently leaked into surroundings.
 Another supports that we have to ban the nuclear power-plant built in our country is
cause by the radiation waste. During reprocessing, uranium and plutonium are separated from
the wastes. The 3% wastes are eventually turned into solid waste that can be source of concern
as it needs to be stored. However, the reprocessing are being expensive, posing security
threats, harming the environment and not eliminating the need for geological repositories.
Current radiation waste management does not incorporate with the social uncertainties. The risk
is based on the probabilities of equipment and structure failures, nature disasters and other
physical variables. Reversibility technology are frequently positioned to avoid burden on future
generations with a legacy of wastes buried underground but the costs of such options are
substantial. Even the waste takes thousands of years to reach the radioactivity levels of the
original uranium, the media often negatively portrays the generation of radioactive waste. This is
clearly telling us that spent fuels from a nuclear power-plant are radioactive and highly toxic.
The terrorist will also acquired the nuclear waste to construct a “dirty bomb” with purpose of
spreading radioactive material over a large area. This will involving radioactive waste likely
contaminate a strictly local area.

Mining technique is another cause that we should ban the nuclear power-plant in our
country. There are three ways the mining techniques could harmful effect us as a human and
the environment. The first is physical. It is includes unstable waste rock piles, old buildings,
open mine workings, pits and tunnels, derelict buildings and machines, and water filled voids.
The second is chemical, which is includes ponds of contaminated water, acid drainage from
reactive waste, old processing chemicals and residues. Physical and chemical hazards can
represent significant human health and environmental problems to the local community and
surrounding areas. Chemical problems can cause large ecological and economic damage if not
properly treated. The third detrimental effect of uranium mining is radiological. Radiological is
includes uranium mill tailings, unprocessed uranium-bearing ore, scale and sludge in old plants,
contaminated scrap metal, and release of uranium dust and radon gas into the environment.
Some radiological hazards can be addressed as with physical and chemical problems. More
important it can cause economic and economic damage to the local community and surrounding
area in case of late addressed. Other radiological hazards require specialized methods of
remediation and treatment. The cost will impose on the future generation if the uranium mines
are not remediated. Furthermore, the effects on the mining of uranium are acute due to the
radiological effects. The last detrimental effect of uranium mining is greenhouse gas emissions.
Although nuclear reactors themselves do not emit greenhouse gas, uranium mining is not
completely greenhouse gas emission free. Mining occur using fossil fuel energy. Heavy
machine is often operated using fossil fuels. However, the production and consumption of fossil
fuel levels are likely significantly lower.

As the conclusion, the use of nuclear energy associated with many ethical that we have
to consider. Since the nuclear energy technology becomes more important issue, the
governments are urged to consider this ethical. While the nuclear reactors itself does not
produce greenhouse gas emissions, it produce radioactive waste. Uranium mining is also can
lead to the health and environmental effects to the country and populations. Another aspect to
be considered is safety of the nuclear power-plant. The use of nuclear energy could bring us to
the meltdown problem. As we know, meltdown can gives effect to us and environment. Besides
moral, ethical and spiritual reasons, at least for the pure will to survive, we should strive for a
sustainable living and realize it in our personal life. Nuclear power-plant industry is now
spending an incredible amount of money and time. The main issue to the owners of existing
nuclear power-plant is to prolong the life-span for existing nuclear plants. A huge financial are
required to keep the plants operation. After all, it is safer to us to ban the nuclear power-plant
built in our country.

REFERENCES