Nuclear Waste Disposal Essay -- essays research papers fc

Nuclear Waste and the Effects on Human Life Statement of the issue:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nuclear waste is a growing concern in the Untied States and throughout the world today. Even right now as I type this paper Congress is debating as to allow nuclear waste to be stored in Yucca Mountain in Nevada. This debate in Congress will help decide the way that the Untied States deals with nuclear waste issues in the future. Nuclear waste is hazardous to human life. It contains many harmful chemicals that could hurt life. Nuclear waste could even disrupt or genetics and cause mutations in human life forms. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified four different categories of waste: corrosive, ignitable, reactive, and toxic. A corrosive material is a material that can wear away or destroy a substance. A ignitable material is a material that can burst into flames very easily. These pose as a fire hazard and can irritate your skin, eyes, and lungs, and they emitted harmful vapors. A reactive material is a material that can explode o r create poisonous gases when combined with other chemicals. A toxic material is a material or substance that can poison people or other life. Toxic substances can cause illness and even result in death if they are absorbed through the skin or if they are swallowed (Hazard,1).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Those are the main four reasons why this issue is in hot debate in the United States now. Residents that live in peaceful communities do not want these materials to end up in their communities. Even if it means that a train or a freight truck will be hauling these materials through the peaceful community for long a single moment. People are just afraid of what could happen in the single moment in their community. They do not want to take the risk of having those dangerous and hazardous materials going through their communities at all. This issue if dealt right could land President Bush right back in the White House again after the next election, but if he handles this important issue wrong. Then that could make for the next president of the Untied States.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This is an important issue in the United States today because many people still fear nuclear waste because of what has happened at Chernobyl. They are afraid t... ...call and realize that it dangerous. Nuclear energy is probably the best source of energy we have at this available time, but until they learn how to dispose of its waste in an environmental safe way, I will always be against nuclear energy and the waste that it produces. Works Cited Antigua-Waste Caribbean Worried about nuclear waste shipments. EFE News Service. March 10, 2002. Associated Press. March 5, 2002. Energy Dept. Sued Over Nuclear Waste. www.wastedisposal.com. Associated Press. February 17, 2002. Waste Pile fire a health hazard, doc says. Victoria Times Colonist. Hazardous Waste Introduction. March 2, 2002. http://environment.about.com/library/weekly. Holt, Mark. Nuclear Waste Disposal: Background. April 23, 2001. Congressional Research Reports. Orrick, Dave. March 3, 2002. Nuclear Waste plan: Good or bad for the suburbs? Chicago Daily Herald. Nuclear Waste Task Force - Nuclear Waste - Sierra Club. 2002. www.mamma.com. www.sierraclub.org/nuclearwaste/nucw.asp. Simberg, Rand. February 28, 2002. Nuclear Waste Should be Stored on the Moon. Fox News. Council Denies Dump Waste is Hazardous. January 23, 2002. www.mamma.com. www.utvinternet.com.