The 3 Main Environmental Drawbacks of Nuclear Power: The Big Picture
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts.
Most of these links are informational-based for you to check out their primary sources with one click.
But some of these links are so-called "affiliate links" to products that we recommend.
Why do we add these product links?
First and foremost, because we believe that they add value to you. For example, when we wrote a post about the environmental impact of long showers, we came across an EPA recommendation to use WaterSense showerheads. So we linked to where you can find them. Or, for many of our posts, we also link to our favorite books on that topic so that you can get a much more holistic overview than one single blog post could provide.
And when there is an affiliate program for these products, we sign up for it. For example, as Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
What do these affiliate links mean for you?
First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission - but at no additional costs to you.
And when you buy something through a link that is not an affiliate link, we won’t receive any commission but we’ll still be happy to have helped you.
What do these affiliate links mean for us?
When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra costs to you).
And at this point in time, all money is reinvested in sharing the most helpful content with you. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself.
What does this mean for me personally?
You may have noticed by the way Impactful Ninja is operated that money is not the driving factor behind it. It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. However, it's a project in that I invest a lot of time and also quite some money.
Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.
Stay impactful,
Nuclear power has faced controversy over its use of radioactive materials, but it is still an energy source that can help us ensure a sustainable future for generations to come. It can play a vital role in mitigating climate change, yet no energy source comes without drawbacks. So, we had to ask: What are the environmental drawbacks of nuclear power?
The main environmental drawback of nuclear power is that it generates nuclear waste with varying radioactivity. In addition, nuclear fission is a nonrenewable resource that can negatively impact the environment. Overall, nuclear power is still considered to be an environmentally friendly energy source.
Keep reading to find out all about what the environmental drawbacks of nuclear power are, how safe and dangerous it is, what its pros and cons are, and how nuclear power can specifically help mitigate climate change.
The Big Picture of the Environmental Drawbacks of Nuclear Power
The two ways we can generate nuclear power are via nuclear fission (when neutrons divide) or nuclear fusion (when neutrons fuse).
- Nuclear fission is the generation of energy produced when splitting apart the nucleus of an atom.
“Nuclear fission: a nuclear reaction in which a heavy nucleus splits spontaneously or on impact with another particle, with the release of energy.”
Cambridge Dictionary
- Nuclear fusion is the generation of energy produced when lighter atoms are combined or fused to create larger and heavier atoms.
“Nuclear fusion: the process of joining two nuclei to produce energy.”
Cambridge Dictionary
All operating nuclear power plants today utilize the process of nuclear fission, whereas nuclear fusion is still very much in the research and development phase.
| How Environmentally Friendly Is Nuclear Power | Overall, nuclear fission is considered to be environmentally friendly in its operating stage but not in its building and building back stages due to the environmental threats of uranium mining and nuclear waste. |
| Drawback #1: Nuclear power generates nuclear waste | Nuclear power produces nuclear waste that is radioactive and can remain hazardous for many years, depending on the type. |
| Drawback #2: Nuclear fission is a nonrenewable energy source | Nuclear fission is classified as nonrenewable energy because nuclear fuel (Uranium) is a finite material that can only be found in certain locations in the Earth’s crust. |
| Drawback #3: Nuclear fission can negatively impact the environment | Uranium mining can contaminate the environment with radiation, water-borne toxins, and radon gas. |
What Are the 3 Main Environmental Drawbacks of Nuclear Power
Nuclear power generates nuclear waste with varying radioactivity. In addition, nuclear fission is a nonrenewable resource that can negatively impact the environment.
Environmental Drawback #1: Nuclear Power Generates Nuclear Waste
Nuclear power produces nuclear waste that is radioactive and can remain hazardous for many years, depending on the type.
Environmental Drawback #1
Although nuclear power produces minimal waste, the waste that it does produce is radioactive. The level of radioactivity depends if we are talking about fission or fusion.
Overall, there are three types of nuclear wastes that are classified based on their radioactivity:
- High-level: Used nuclear fuel from the nuclear reactions accounting for 3% of the total volume of nuclear waste and containing 95% of the total radioactivity.
- Intermediate-level: Used filters, steel components, and effluents from reprocessing accounting for 7% of the total volume of nuclear waste and containing 4% of the total radioactivity.
- Low-level: Lightly contaminated items like tools and work clothing account for 90% of the total volume of nuclear waste and contain 1% of the total radioactivity.
Nuclear fission radioactive waste products include uranium mill tailings, spent (used) reactor fuel, and other radioactive wastes.
Nuclear fusion radioactive waste products include plasma vessel walls that become radioactive when high-energy neutrons activate the walls.
Most of the nuclear waste generated from nuclear power as a whole consists of low or intermediate-level nuclear waste (90%), which is significantly less dangerous and radioactive than high-level nuclear waste. But the small amount of high-level waste (3%) that is generated still must be contained and disposed of properly so as not to negatively impact public or environmental health.
Environmental Drawback #2: Nuclear Fission Is a Nonrenewable Energy Source
Nuclear fission is a nonrenewable energy source that will eventually be depleted.
Environmental Drawback #2
Nonrenewable energy sources are those that will run out in our lifetime or will not be replenished in many, many lifetimes.
“Nonrenewables: existing in limited quantities that cannot be replaced after they have all been used”
Cambridge Dictionary
Nuclear fission is classified as nonrenewable energy because nuclear fuel (Uranium) is a finite material that can only be found in certain locations in the Earth’s crust.
Nuclear power plants use the second most common isotope of Uranium (U-235) which has a relative abundance of only 0.7%. And most of the original U-235 on earth has already decayed because it has a half-life of about 700 million years.
Although nuclear power plants use only tiny amounts of Uranium in the fission process and can be used as a reliable energy source for decades to come, we will still run out at some point. And once we run out of Uranium-235, we won’t be able to generate the nuclear fission reaction anymore.
This does not apply to nuclear fusion because fusion is considered to be renewable. Its input materials, deuterium and tritium, are virtually inexhaustible. Deuterium is found abundantly in water, and tritium can be synthetically produced by exposing lithium, a very common element, to high-energy neutrons.
Environmental Drawback #3: Nuclear Fission Can Negatively Impact the Environment
Uranium mining can contaminate the environment with radiation, water-borne toxins, and radon gas.
Environmental Drawback #3
The main fuel source for nuclear fission is Uranium, a naturally occurring, radioactive element found in the Earth’s crust. Mining Uranium involves digging either open-air pits or access shafts and tunnels.
Uranium mining contaminates the environment with radioactive dust, radon gas, water-borne toxins, and increased levels of background radiation. Exploratory drilling and mining also heavily increase the risk of contaminating aquatic ecosystems. Small amounts of pollutants can poison and bioaccumulate in fish, cause reproductive problems and deformities in aquatic species, and contaminate water and land-based ecosystems for hundreds of years.
What Are the 5 Main Environmental Benefits of Nuclear Power
Nuclear power has a low carbon footprint, protects air quality, and generates few waste products. In addition, nuclear fusion cannot cause a nuclear accident or be used to produce nuclear weapons.
| 5 Environmental Benefits of Nuclear Power | Quick Facts |
| Benefit #1: Nuclear power has a low carbon footprint | On a life-cycle basis, nuclear power emits 12 grams of CO2 equivalent per kWh of electricity produced, the second lowest out of all fuel types. |
| Benefit #2: Nuclear power protects air quality | Nuclear power is a clean burning source of energy that produces minimal greenhouse gasses and emits no CO, SO2, or NOx, thereby helping to protect air quality. |
| Benefit #3: Nuclear power generates few waste products | Nuclear power produces substantially less waste than other forms of energy and only a small amount of high-level, radioactive waste. |
| Benefit #4: Nuclear fusion cannot cause a nuclear accident | Nuclear fusion reactions cannot cause a nuclear accident because they are not based on chain reactions. |
| Benefit #5: Nuclear fusion cannot be used to produce nuclear weapons | Nuclear fusion cannot be used to produce nuclear weapons because it does not use fissile material and uses only a small amount of fuel. |
How Environmentally Friendly Is Nuclear Power
Overall, nuclear power is not considered to be environmentally friendly.
“Environmentally friendly: (of products) not harming the environment.”
Cambridge Dictionary
Nuclear power varies in environmental friendliness. The operating and maintenance stage is more environmentally friendly when compared to the building and building back stages.
| How environmentally friendly is the building of nuclear power | This stage is not considered to be environmentally friendly because of the negative environmental effects associated with uranium mining, nuclear waste, and transportation. |
| How environmentally friendly is the operating and maintaining of nuclear power | This stage is considered to be environmentally friendly because minimal emissions are produced, and nuclear accidents are rare occurrences in the overall history of nuclear power. |
| How environmentally friendly is the building back of nuclear power | The smaller the nuclear facility, the more environmentally friendly the building back stage is considered. Nuclear fusion is generally more environmentally friendly at this stage than nuclear fission because nuclear fusion radioactivity decreases exponentially faster than nuclear fission radioactivity. |
How Safe or Dangerous Is Nuclear Power
Overall, nuclear power is considered to be minimally dangerous. Holistically and throughout its life cycle, nuclear power is safe and beneficial for human and animal health, the environment, and the energy grid. It is also significantly safer than fossil fuels and some other types of renewable energy.
Here’s How Safe Nuclear Power Is
Overall, nuclear power is a safe form of energy regarding human and animal health, the environment, the energy grid, and throughout all stages of its life cycle.
| How Safe Is Nuclear Power at a Holistic Level | Human and Animal Health: Nuclear power is considered safe when it comes to human and animal health due to the rarity of nuclear accidents. Environment: Nuclear power emits minimal greenhouse gas emissions and has a minimal effect on the environment, provided that proper siting of nuclear facilities and disposal of nuclear waste occurs. Energy Grid and Infrastructure: Nuclear power is not only safe, but it is also a beneficial addition to our energy grid and supporting infrastructure. |
| How Safe Is Nuclear Power Across Its Life-Cycle | Building: Safe work practices and proper training can mitigate the risks associated with the building stage of nuclear power. Operating and Maintaining: Nuclear power is generally considered safe to operate and maintain, if proper precautionary measures are followed. Building Back: This final stage is considered to be safe overall, with the hazard of handling, containing, and disposing of spent nuclear materials able to be mitigated with proper procedures and safe work practices. |
| How Safe Is Nuclear Power In Comparison to Other Types of Energy | Nuclear power is one of our safest forms of energy that has one of the lowest death rates from accidents and air pollution per unit of electricity generation. |
Here’s How Dangerous Nuclear Power Is
Overall, nuclear power is considered minimally dangerous in terms of human and animal health, the environment, the energy grid, and through all stages of its life cycle.
| How Dangerous Is Nuclear Power at a Holistic Level | Human and Animal Health: Nuclear power can be dangerous to human and animal health if proper measures are not in place. Environment: Nuclear power is minimally dangerous to the environment, provided that proper siting of nuclear facilities and disposal of nuclear waste occurs. Energy Grid and Infrastructure: Nuclear power is not considered to be dangerous to our energy grid and supporting infrastructure. |
| How Dangerous Is Nuclear Power Across Its Life-Cycle | Building: Nuclear power plant construction and uranium mining come with the danger of radiation exposure. Operating and Maintaining: Nuclear power is considered minimally dangerous to operate and maintain if proper precautionary measures are followed. Building Back: Decommissioning nuclear power facilities comes with risks involving direct contact with spent nuclear fuel and radioactive plasma vessel walls. |
| How Dangerous Is Nuclear Power in Comparison to Other Types of Energy | Nuclear power is one of our safest forms of energy that has one of the lowest death rates from accidents and air pollution per unit of electricity generation. |
What Are The 7 Pros and 4 Cons of Nuclear Power
Nuclear power has a low carbon footprint, protects air quality, is extremely energy dense, generates few waste products, and promotes energy independence and energy security. In addition, nuclear fusion cannot cause a nuclear accident or be used to produce nuclear weapons.
Nuclear power generates nuclear waste with varying radioactivity. In addition, nuclear fission is a nonrenewable resource and nuclear fusion is still in the research and development phase because the fusion reaction is very difficult to start and maintain.
What Are the 7 Pros of Nuclear Power
Nuclear power has a low carbon footprint, protects air quality, is extremely energy dense, generates few waste products, and promotes energy independence and energy security. In addition, nuclear fusion cannot cause a nuclear accident or be used to produce nuclear weapons.
| 7 Pros of Nuclear Power | Quick Facts |
| #1: Nuclear power has a low carbon footprint | On a life-cycle basis, nuclear power emits 12 grams of CO2 equivalent per kWh of electricity produced, the second lowest out of all fuel types. |
| #2: Nuclear power protects air quality | Nuclear power is a clean burning source of energy that produces minimal greenhouse gasses and emits no CO, SO2, or NOx, thereby helping to protect air quality. |
| #3: Nuclear power is energy dense | Nuclear fuel (uranium, deuterium, and tritium) are all extremely energy dense, meaning you don’t need a lot of it to create a lot of energy. |
| #4: Nuclear power generates few waste products | Nuclear power produces substantially less waste than other forms of energy and only a small amount of high-level, radioactive waste. |
| #5: Nuclear power promotes energy independence and energy security | Nuclear power can help us transition away from fossil fuels and towards an energy-independent future. |
| #6: Nuclear fusion cannot cause a nuclear accident | Nuclear fusion reactions cannot cause a nuclear accident because they are not based on chain reactions. |
| #7: Nuclear fusion cannot be used to produce nuclear weapons | Nuclear fusion cannot be used to produce nuclear weapons because it does not use fissile material and uses only a small amount of fuel. |
What Are the 4 Cons of Nuclear Power
Nuclear power generates nuclear waste with varying radioactivity. In addition, nuclear fission is a nonrenewable resource and nuclear fusion is still in the research and development phase because the fusion reaction is very difficult to start and maintain.
| 4 Cons of Nuclear Power | Quick Facts |
| #1: Nuclear power generates nuclear waste | Nuclear power produces nuclear waste that is radioactive and can remain hazardous for many years, depending on the type. |
| #2: Nuclear fission is a nonrenewable energy source | Nuclear fission is classified as nonrenewable energy because nuclear fuel (Uranium) is a finite material that can only be found in certain locations in the Earth’s crust. |
| #3: Nuclear fusion is still in the research and development phase | Nuclear fusion is still very much in the research and development phase because the fusion process is difficult to start, maintain, and control. |
| #4: Nuclear fusion reactions are difficult to start and maintain | The two main challenges to nuclear fusion are maintaining the reaction and generating more energy from the reaction than was required to start the reaction. |
How Effective and Efficient Is Nuclear Power
In terms of effectiveness, nuclear power effectively generates nuclear energy by having a low carbon footprint, protecting air quality, being energy dense, generating few waste products, and promoting energy independence and security.
In terms of efficiency, nuclear power uses energy-dense input materials to efficiently generate nuclear energy and has a small land-use carbon footprint when compared to other energy types.
Nuclear power is effective because:
- Nuclear power has become one of our largest global contributors of carbon-free electricity, accounting for roughly 10% of the world’s energy generation.
- Nuclear power has the second-lowest carbon footprint out of all fuel types. On a life-cycle basis, nuclear fission emits 12 grams of CO2 equivalent per kWh of electricity produced.
- Nuclear power produces a fraction of the pollution and toxic chemicals that fossil fuels produce, helping to protect air quality.
- Nuclear power is extremely energy dense, so you don’t need a lot of it to create a lot of energy.
- Nuclear power produces substantially less waste than other forms of energy.
- Nuclear power can help us transition away from fossil fuels and towards an energy-independent future.
- Nuclear fusion reactions are not based on chain reactions and therefore cannot cause a nuclear accident
However, nuclear power can lack effectiveness because:
- Nuclear fission is classified as a nonrenewable resource. Once we run out of Uranium-235, we won’t be able to generate the nuclear fission reaction anymore.
- Nuclear fusion is still very much in the research and development phase because the fusion process is difficult to start, maintain, and control.
Nuclear power is efficient because:
- Nuclear power uses fuel that is extremely energy dense, so you don’t need a lot of it to create a lot of energy.
- Nuclear power has a small land-use footprint, using only 0.3 square meters of land per megawatt-hour of electricity produced, the lowest out of all energy types.
However, nuclear fusion can lack efficiency because the two main challenges to fusion are maintaining the reaction and generating more energy from the reaction than was required to start the reaction.
How Can Nuclear Power Help Mitigate Climate Change
Climate change is a severe, long-term consequence of fossil fuel combustion. If left untreated, atmospheric CO2 can remain there for tens of thousands of years and exacerbate the negative effects of climate change. Nuclear power emits less CO2 upon operation than fossil fuels and can therefore reduce our total emissions.
How Is Climate Change Defined
Climate change is arguably the most severe, long-term global impact of CO2. Every year, we emit approximately 37 billion tons of CO2. The carbon found in fossil fuels reacts with oxygen in the air to produce CO2.
“Climate change: changes in the earth’s weather, including changes in temperature, wind patterns, and rainfall, especially the increase in the temperature of the earth’s atmosphere that is caused by the increase of particular gasses, especially carbon dioxide.”
Oxford Dictionary
When carbon enters the atmosphere, it absorbs sunlight and solar radiation, trapping the heat and acting as an insulator for the planet.
Since the Industrial Revolution, Earth’s temperature has risen a little more than 1 degree Celsius (°C), or 2 degrees Fahrenheit (°F). Between 1880-1980 the global temperature rose by 0.07°C every 10 years. This rate has more than doubled since 1981, with a current global annual temperature rise of 0.2°C, or 0.36°F, for every decade.
How Does Nuclear Power Specifically Help Mitigate Climate Change
The global average concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere today registers at 419 parts per million (ppm), the highest ever recorded. Nuclear power can help lower this concentration because it can replace some of the burning of fossil fuels (e.g., coal, oil, natural gas) with a cleaner form of renewable energy.
Nuclear power helps to avoid 1.5 gigatons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per year and 180 billion cubic meters of global gas demand per year. In the past 50 years, nuclear power has helped avoid over 70 gigatons of GHG emissions.
Increasing nuclear power energy usage can reduce CO2 emissions, and the more we reduce CO2 emissions, the more we combat the negative effects associated with climate change including temperature rise, sea-level rise, ice melting, and ocean acidification. When these rates are slowed, the earth’s biodiversity does not have to struggle to adapt to temperature and pH changes. People will not be displaced due to the flooding of coastal areas. And icebergs will continue to provide climate regulation.
Final Thoughts
Nuclear power generates nuclear waste with varying radioactivity. In addition, nuclear fission is a nonrenewable resource that can negatively impact the environment.
Environmentally friendly energy is poised to see continued growth in the future as we look to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate global warming. As we look towards a future without fossil fuels, nuclear power can help us bridge the gap in a time of transition.
Stay impactful,
Sources
- World Nuclear Association: Nuclear Power in the World Today
- International Atomic Energy Agency: What is Nuclear Energy? The Science of Nuclear Power
- Nuclear Fusion Power
- Impactful Ninja: How Does Nuclear Power Work? From Source Til Energy Generation
- World Nuclear Association: What is nuclear waste, and what do we do with it?
- US Energy Information Administration: Nuclear power and the environment
- Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Fusion reactors: Not what they’re cracked up to be
- National Geographic: Nonrenewable Energy
- National Grid Group: Why is nuclear a clean energy?
- World Nuclear Association: Uranium Mining Overview
- International Atomic Energy Agency: Nuclear fusion could give the world a limitless source of clean energy. We’re closer than ever to it
- International Atomic Energy Agency: What is Uranium?
- National Institutes of Health: Uranium mining and health – PMC
- Biological Diversity: Uranium
- World Nuclear Association: Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Electricity
- World Nuclear Association: Nuclear Energy and Sustainable Development
- What is nuclear waste, and what do we do with it? – World Nuclear Association
- Natural Resources Defense Council: Nuclear Power 101
- ITER: Advantages of fusion
- Impactful Ninja: The 5 Environmental Drawbacks of Nuclear Power: The Big Picture
- Impactful Ninja: How Environmentally Friendly Is Nuclear Power? A Life-Cycle Analysis”
- Impactful Ninja: How Safe Is Nuclear Power? A Holistic Life-Cycle Analysis
- Impactful Ninja: How Dangerous Is Nuclear Power? A Holistic Life-Cycle Analysis
- Impactful Ninja: The History of Nuclear Fission – The Big Picture
- World Nuclear Association: Occupational Safety in Uranium Mining
- Nuclear Energy Agency: Here’s How a Nuclear Reactor Actually Works
- Our World in Data: What are the safest and cleanest sources of energy?
- Beyond Nuclear International: Nuclear power and harm to animals
- US Energy Information Administration: Delivery to consumers
- Impactful Ninja: Nuclear Power: All 7 Pros and 4 Cons Explained
- Nuclear Energy Agency Institute: Nuclear Fuel
- US Environmental Protection Agency: Summary of the Energy Independence and Security Act
- Scientific American: What Is the Future of Fusion Energy?
- International Energy Agency: Nuclear
- Visual Capitalist: The Power of a Uranium Pellet Compared to Fossil Fuels
- Our World in Data: How does the land use of different electricity sources compare?
- Impactful Ninja: How Effective and Efficient Is Nuclear Power?
- Natural Resources Defense Council: Global Warming 101
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: The Paris Agreement
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Climate Change – Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
- Impactful Ninja: Fossil Fuel Energy Explained: All You Need to Know
- Impactful Ninja: Coal Energy Explained: All You Need to Know
- Impactful Ninja: Oil Energy Explained: All You Need to Know
- Impactful Ninja: Natural Gas Energy Explained: All You Need to Know
- International Energy Agency: Executive summary – Nuclear Power and Secure Energy Transitions
- National Wildlife Federation: Climate Change
