Nuclear Technology

The Benefits of Nuclear Technology
Concerns about the disastrous event in the past make people to look into nuclear technology in a very negative perspective. For example, the 1979 partial meltdown of a reactor at Three Mile Island and the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. On that note, the most recent international event regarding nuclear technology possession, where Iran falls under probation for using nuclear technology for non-peaceful purposes (Iran entitled to use peaceful nuclear technology: EU official, 2013). It is not denied that nuclear power could lead to nuclear weapon creation which has long-lasting devastating effects on the environment and harmful to mankind. Though there are some disadvantages in nuclear technology, the amount of advantages is higher compared to risks that it brings (Sustainable Development & Nuclear Power). The benefits and the importance of nuclear technology are exposed in the following parts of the essay.

To begin with, the most important one is the energy production. In this fast moving world, the pollution of the atmosphere and the environment is at alarming level. The major contributor to the emission of carbon dioxide is by generation of electricity of fossil fuel, notably natural gas and coal and it significantly causes global warming (Smith, 2011). Since nuclear energy does not result in the emission of gases that produce global warming in the environment, such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide or nitrogen dioxide, it is definitely preferable compared to burning fossil fuels which produce huge amounts of contamination (Nuclear Technology: the Server of Mankind in a Positive Way, 2011). It provides cheap and clean energy. Even countries such as France produce approximately 90 percent of their electricity from nuclear power and lead the world in nuclear power generating technology, proving that nuclear power is an economic alternative to fossil fuel power stations (V.Ryan, 2009).
Besides that, from the economical point of view, nuclear technology is energy independence and the operating costs of a nuclear reactor are relatively low. Nuclear fuels are derived from uranium or plutonium. Uranium is available in plentiful quantities in the United States, whereas plutonium is a by-product of the nuclear fission process. Global interest in investing in nuclear power is high, providing the potential to pump money into emerging economies and create jobs. Supporters also maintain that many safety issues are solved using newer reactor technologies, reducing the likelihood of accidents. Being one of the countries that possess nuclear power, India hopes to produce 25 percent of its electricity from nuclear power by 2050. (Burgess, 2013)

Moreover, it is widely known to the world of the usage of radiation and radioisotopes in medicine particularly for diagnosis and therapy of various medical conditions. Nuclear medicine allows doctors to make a quick, accurate diagnosis of the functioning of person 's specific organs, or to treat them. Radiotherapy can be used to treat some medical conditions, especially cancer, using radiation to weaken or destroy particular targeted cells. Tens of millions of patients are treated with nuclear medicine each year.

Over 10,000 hospitals worldwide use radioisotopes in medicine, and about 90% of the procedures are for diagnosis. The most common radioisotope used in diagnosis is technetium-99, with some 30 million procedures per year, accounting for 80% of all nuclear medicine procedures worldwide. Modern industry also uses radioisotopes in a variety of ways. Sealed radioactive sources are used in industrial radiography, gauging applications and mineral analysis. (Other Uses of Nuclear Technology, 2013)

Additionally, nuclear technology is also used in sensing water resources. Since water is essential for life and water in many parts of the world has always been scarce. However, for any new development, whether agricultural, industrial or human settlement, a sustainable supply of good water is vital. Isotope hydrology techniques enable accurate tracing and measurement of the extent of underground water resources. Such techniques provide important analytical tools in the management and conservation of existing supplies of water and in the identification of new, renewable sources of water. They provide answers to questions about origin, age and distribution of groundwater, as well as the interconnections between ground and surface water and aquifer recharge systems. The results permit planning and sustainable management of these water resources.

For surface waters they can give information about leakages through dams and irrigation channels, the dynamics of lakes and reservoirs, flow rates, river discharges and sedimentation rates. From Afghanistan to Zaire there some 60 countries, developed and developing, that have used isotope techniques to investigate their water resources in collaboration with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Neutron probes can measure soil moisture very accurately, enabling better management of land affected by salinity, particularly in respect to irrigation. (The Many Uses of Nuclear Technology, 2013)

Furthermore, it also used in preserving food as some 25-30% of the food harvested in many countries is lost as a result of spoilage by microbes and pests. The reduction of spoilage due to infestation and contamination is of the ultimate importance. This is especially so in countries which have hot and humid climates and where an extension of the storage life of certain foods, even by a few days, is often enough to save them from spoiling before they can be consumed. Some countries lose a high proportion of harvested grain due to moulds and insects. In all parts of the world there is growing use of irradiation technology to preserve food. For instance, countries like United States, Japan, Netherlands and many more practices the usage of the technology. (Smith, 2011)

In over 40 countries health and safety authorities have approved irradiation of more than 60 kinds of food, ranging from spices, grains and grain products to fruit, vegetables and meat. It can replace potentially harmful chemical fumigants to eliminate insects from dried fruit and grain, legumes, and spices. Food irradiation means that raw foods are exposed to high levels of gamma radiation which kills bacteria and other harmful organisms without affecting the nutritional value of food itself or leaving any residue. It is the only means of killing bacterial pathogens in raw and frozen food. Best of all, irradiation of food does not make it radioactive. (Elizabeth Andress)

In a nutshell, global challenge is to develop strategies that foster a sustainable energy future less dependent on fossil fuels and it has been scientifically proved that as a sustainable long term energy supply into the distant future, nuclear power can be an important contributor to sustainable development. It is a multipurpose power source providing base load electricity and offering a wide range of potential applications in the non-electric sector. Both the nuclear industry and governments face a serious challenge.

Institutional and industrial infrastructures must be maintained at a level sufficient to preserve scientific knowledge and industrial capabilities to meet an increased demand. Although in the near term nuclear power is not an option for many developing countries, technology transfer and local human resource development will be necessary if nuclear power expansion is to meet their future energy needs. But, the public’s acceptance on nuclear power is critical to the expansion of nuclear power. And, many attempts has been made globally to clarify issues that limiting the achievement of nuclear technology.

References

Nuclear Technology: the Server of Mankind in a Positive Way. (2011). Retrieved from StudyMode.Com: http://www.studymode.com/essays/Nuclear-Technology-The-Server-Of-Mankind-837476.html
Iran entitled to use peaceful nuclear technology: EU official. (2013). Retrieved from PressTV: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/07/11/313282/iran-entitled-to-ntech-eu-official/
Other Uses of Nuclear Technology. (2013). Retrieved from World Nuclear Association: http://world-nuclear.org/Nuclear-Basics/What-other-things-can-nuclear-technology-be-used-for-/#.Ug2jgNKmhZf
The Many Uses of Nuclear Technology. (2013). Retrieved from World Nuclear Association: http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Non-Power-Nuclear-Applications/Overview/The-Many-Uses-of-Nuclear-Technology/#.Ug3i79KmhZf
Burgess, J. (2013). 10 Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power. Retrieved from Discovery: http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/curiosity/topics/10-pros-cons-nuclear-power.htm
Elizabeth Andress, K. D. Introduction to Food Irradiation. Retrieved from The University of Georgia, Athens: http://www.fcs.uga.edu/ext/pubs/html/FDNS-E-3.html
Smith, J. M. (2011). The Pro and Cons of Nuclear Power. Retrieved from TheDailyGreen: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/nuclear-power-pro-con
Stephen Ansolabehere, J. D. (2003). Executive Summary. The Future of Nuclear Power, 9-10.
Sustainable Development & Nuclear Power. Retrieved from International Atomic Energy Agency: http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Booklets/Development/index.html
V.Ryan. (2009). Nuclear Power Generation. Retrieved from www.technologystudent.com: http://www.technologystudent.com/energy1/nuclear1.htm

References: Nuclear Technology: the Server of Mankind in a Positive Way. (2011). Retrieved from StudyMode.Com: http://www.studymode.com/essays/Nuclear-Technology-The-Server-Of-Mankind-837476.html Iran entitled to use peaceful nuclear technology: EU official. (2013). Retrieved from PressTV: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/07/11/313282/iran-entitled-to-ntech-eu-official/ Other Uses of Nuclear Technology. (2013). Retrieved from World Nuclear Association: http://world-nuclear.org/Nuclear-Basics/What-other-things-can-nuclear-technology-be-used-for-/#.Ug2jgNKmhZf The Many Uses of Nuclear Technology. (2013). Retrieved from World Nuclear Association: http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Non-Power-Nuclear-Applications/Overview/The-Many-Uses-of-Nuclear-Technology/#.Ug3i79KmhZf Burgess, J. (2013). 10 Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power. Retrieved from Discovery: http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/curiosity/topics/10-pros-cons-nuclear-power.htm Elizabeth Andress, K. D. Introduction to Food Irradiation. Retrieved from The University of Georgia, Athens: http://www.fcs.uga.edu/ext/pubs/html/FDNS-E-3.html Smith, J. M. (2011). The Pro and Cons of Nuclear Power. Retrieved from TheDailyGreen: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/nuclear-power-pro-con Stephen Ansolabehere, J. D. (2003). Executive Summary. The Future of Nuclear Power, 9-10. Sustainable Development & Nuclear Power. Retrieved from International Atomic Energy Agency: http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Booklets/Development/index.html V.Ryan. (2009). Nuclear Power Generation. Retrieved from www.technologystudent.com: http://www.technologystudent.com/energy1/nuclear1.htm