Nuclear Power Prevents More Deaths Than It Causes

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Climate Change: Study estimates that nuclear energy leads to substantially fewer pollution-related deaths and greenhouse gas emissions compared with fossil-fuel sources

Using nuclear power in place of fossil-fuel energy sources, such as coal, has prevented some 1.8 million air pollution-related deaths globally and could save millions of more lives in coming decades, concludes a study. The researchers also find that nuclear energy prevents emissions of huge quantities of greenhouse gases. These estimates help make the case that policymakers should continue to rely on and expand nuclear power in place of fossil fuels to mitigate climate change, the authors say (Environ. Sci. Technol., DOI: 10.1021/es3051197).

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http://cen.acs.org/articles/91/web/2...hs-Causes.html

We may as well commence decommissioning all fossil fuel power plants and switch to good ol' nuclear.

I've never understood the fear related to Nuclear when there are so many benefits to using it as an energy source. We cannot survive on fossil fuels and renewables such as tidal, solar and wind energy as they are either unreliable, damaging or not powerful enough to supply the country. Nuclear is the only viable option. I'm amazed this study even needed to be done, given how nuclear power doesn't come with environmental hazards like pollution - disasters are very few and avoidable.

Some people think that everything that says nuclear has to do with bombs and massive destructions. That's wrong. Nuclear energy has proven to be safer, cheaper, and less damageable to the environment.

Yes, it's just nuclear power when in the wrong hands can cause much more wide-spread destruction much quicker. That element is scary. This is especially true for countries who are rogue states.

Gomme, you claim that we can't rely on nonrenewable and that is very valid, but at the same time we will never have the whole world filled in angelic states that can be trusted with nuclear energy.

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Originally Posted by GommeInc

given how nuclear power doesn't come with environmental hazards like pollution.

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Nuclear Fission definitely results in a heck of a lot of pollution in the form of Nuclear Waste.

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Originally Posted by Grig

Yes, it's just nuclear power when in the wrong hands can cause much more wide-spread destruction much quicker. That element is scary.

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Actually it's not really the nuclear power which is all that bothersome, the concern is Terrorists getting a hold of some nuclear waste and making a dirty bomb.

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Originally Posted by Chippiewill

Nuclear Fission definitely results in a heck of a lot of pollution in the form of Nuclear Waste.

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Actually it's not really the nuclear power which is all that bothersome, the concern is Terrorists getting a hold of some nuclear waste and making a dirty bomb.

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The story behind the Chernobyl disaster were not a bunch of terrorists making a dirty bomb :P. Even without bad intentions things can go very wrong, very fast with very grave consequences.

Chernobyl's main failing was a poorly designed reactor. Most modern reactors would struggle to actually 'meltdown' in this day and age.

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Originally Posted by Chippiewill

Chernobyl's main failing was a poorly designed reactor. Most modern reactors would struggle to actually 'meltdown' in this day and age.

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***ushima... 2011.


Dodgy reactors in dodgy locations will always be a problem, so it's not as safe as you may think.

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Originally Posted by Grig

***ushima... 2011.


Dodgy reactors in dodgy locations will always be a problem, so it's not as safe as you may think.

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***ishima was again poorly designed.

Anyone with an ounce of common sense can see that nuclear power and coal, gas, oil and shale gas are the only viable means of powering a nation. Sadly though, although that's clear to us with our heads screwed on properly - the EU commits us to having 20% of our energy come from renewables (which are utterly worthless) and our politicians go along with it.

The lights are destined to go off in a few years, but let it not be said that nobody warned us.