Nuclear Fission

If the nucleus splits, there is nuclear fission. 20% of electric energy in the United States is generated by nuclear fission reactors. The main problem of fission power is the generation of radioactive waste products. According to Hewitt (2008), nuclear fission power plants operating around the world today are safe. The water in contact with the fuel rods is completely contained and radioactive materials are not involved directly in the generation of electricity (p. 325). Because the U-325 isotopes are so highly diluted with U-238, an explosion like that of a nuclear bomb is not possible.

The radiation from a nuclear power plant consists of subatomic particles traveling at or near the velocity of light. They can penetrate deep inside the human body where they can damage biological cells and thereby initiate cancer.

Radiation is indeed everywhere but only lethal doses of radiation of 500 rems can kill a person. However, 80% of radiation comes from natural sources, such a cosmic rays and Earth itself. The human body is a significant source of natural radiation, primarily from the potassium we ingest (Hewitt, 2008, p. 315). But the good news is that our cells repair most kinds of molecular damage caused by radiation if the radiation is not too severe.