A LIFE-THREATENING DISCOVERY: NUCLEAR ENERGY

Nuclear energy is a type of energy that created by changing with small atoms. It is regarded as an extremely effective way to generate power due to its high effectiveness, without any mess, and stability. Nuclear energy is generated through the process of nuclear reactions that occur in the core of a nuclear reactor. The nuclear reactor contains fuel rods that are made up of uranium or plutonium isotopes1. Although it may seems like a useful discovery, I think it is a life-threatening development by virtue of the Chernoobyl disaster. The Chernobyl nuclear power plant, located in Ukraine about 130 km north of the capital of Kiev and about 10 km south of the border with Belarus, was the scene of the most severe accident that has ever occurred in the nuclear industry2. There were serious consequences on the environment in the effected areas after the disaster. Due to the accumulation of radioactive materials in soil and water resources, some areas still have high radiation levels. This has adversely affected natural life and ecosystems. Some species have decreased in number or disappeared altogether. Another devastating consequence of the Chernobyl disaster is the negative physical and mental effects of the explosion on human health. To give an example of one of its physical effects, one study shows that a dramatic increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer has been observed among those exposed to radioactive iodines in childhood and adolescence in the most contaminated territories3. Simultaniously, the most common mental health consequences are depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, medically unexplained somatic symptoms, and stigma4. As a result of the disaster, a large amount of radioactive material was released into the environment. A large amount of radioactive accumulation occurred in water and soil. Large particles have been transported to other areas than small particles and gaseous species. After the Chernobyl accident large and highly radioactive particles were found in several European countries. Particles > 20 μm in aerodynamic diameter were transported hundreds of kilometres from the plant, and they were sufficiently active (> 100 kBq) to cause acute health hazards5. While some discoveries have positive effects to make our lives easier, others have devastating consequences. The biggest example of this is the Chernobyl disaster. As a result, although it may seem like a very clean and practical energy generation method in terms of time-performance, a very small mistake can make a huge city or even a country unlivable.