CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Nuclear Power :This paper deals with comparative assessment of the environmental and health impacts of nuclear and other electricity generation systems. The study including normal operations and accidents in full energy chain analysis. The comparison of the environmental impacts arising from the waste management cycles associated with non emission waste are also discussed.

Nuclear Power while economically feasible and meeting 17% of the world’s demand for electricity is almost free of the air polluting gases that threaten the global climate. Comparing nuclear power with other sources for electricity generation in terms of their associated environmental releases of pollutant such as SOj, NOX, COj, CH< and radioisotopes, taking into account the full fuel chains chains of supply option, nuclear power will help to reduce environmental degradation due to electricity generation . activities.

In view of COj emission, the ranking order commences with hydro, followed by nuclear, wind and photovoltaic Power Plants. CO* emissions from a nuclear power plant arc by two orders of magnitude lower than those of fossil fueled power plants.

A consequent risk comparison between different energy sourceshas toinclude at phases of the whole energy cycle. Coal mines accidents have resulted in several 1000 acute deaths over the years. Later fatalities have never been estimated.

Then came hydropower, also resulting in many catastrophes and losses of human lives. Followed*oil and gas energy industry, its tribute in acute fatalities is expressed- in more than 1000 lifes lost.

No estimate is available concerning later fatalities, latest in the list is commercial nuclcarcncrgy, badly illustrated by the Chernobyl accident resulting officially in 31 acute fatalities, 145 latent fatalities, and 135000 evacuated individuals. The paper offers some findings and conclusions on the role of nuclear power in protecting the global environment Key words: Full chain-Energy Systems — Health — Environmental Impact – Comparative Assessment THE ROLE OF NUCLEAR POWER Nuclear Power can play an important role for the sustainable of energy.