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An Invisible Killer Even as advanced as mans technology is, he still makes fatal mistakes with the new discoveries that are made. Many accidents in nuclear tests and fallout tests proved to be fatal for thousands of lives. There have been deaths caused by safety hazards and negligence. The set-up and mechanics of a nuclear reactor are extremely complex with a seemingly endless supply of possible accidents. After thousands of lives have been exposed to radiation scientists only now know that the lungs, brain, bones and other organs are extremely sensitive to radiation. (May 32-35) In the event of a nuclear explosion the radiation is carried out the top of the mushroom cloud. The cloud witch is called fallout descends down wind. As it falls to earth, grass and other plants first absorb it. Some of the radiation stays in the stratosphere and will come down in rain, snow, or the fog. While the radiation is in the stratosphere it can be blown to any part of the world. Cows then eat the contaminated grass. The radiation is collected in the cows milk. Anyone who drinks the milk will be drinking iodine 131 witch collects in the thyroid and the bones absorb strontium ninety. The only safety from fallout is to have at least three feet of dirt overhead, witch reduces radiation by one thousandth of its original volume. As much energy, as nuclear reactors make, the downside is all the toxic waste that is produced. There are five categories of waste. The most toxic waste is the spent fuel. These are rods made from plutonium that are not hot enough to be used. These rods are then reprocessed to make more fuel. This leaves high level waste behind. The next three levels are: transuranic waste, low level radioactive waste, and uranium mill taillings witch are just rags and other low radioactivity materials. (Worsnop 115,1220) Nuclear reactors produce steam that is over 350 degrees. In each reactor there is over 500 gallons of water.
Approximate Word count = 1300
Approximate Pages = 5.2
(250 words per page double spaced)
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