Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T02:02:21.416Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Non-radiological Environmental Implications of Nuclear Energy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

Asit K. Biswas
Asit K. Biswas
Affiliation:
Director, Biswas & Associates, 76 Woodstock Close, Oxford 0X2 8DD, UK, and President, International Society for Ecological Modelling; Vice-President, International Water Resources Association; formerly Senior Research Scientist, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, 2360 Laxenburg, Austria.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Discussions on environmental implications of nuclear energy have so far been concentrated on radiological aspects: disposal of radioactive wastes, safety of nuclear power production, safe handling of plutonium, and problems associated with uranium mining. There are, however, several environmental issues associated with nuclear power production that are non-radiological in nature: thermal pollution and attendant effects on aquatic life, problems associated with land-use requirements, aesthetic considerations, habitat alterations, and atmospheric effects. These different non-radiological environmental implications of nuclear energy are reviewed.

The paper concludes that, while there are some environmental problems which exist at present, and a few more could emerge in the future, all these problems appear to be solvable with the present state of technological development. The extent of environmental degradation can be significantly reduced by appropriate design and planning.

Type
Main Papers
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 7 , Issue 3 , Autumn 1980 , pp. 229 - 237
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 1980

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Abrahamson, D. E. (1972). Ecological hazards from nuclear power plants. Pp. 798–811 in Careless Technology (Ed. Farver, M. T. & Milton, J. P.). Natural History Press, Garden City, New York, NY: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Belter, W. G. (1975). Management of waste heat at nuclear power stations, its possible impact on the environment, and possibilities of its economic use. Pp. 3–23 in Environmental Effects of Cooling Systems at Nuclear Power Plants. IAEA, Vienna, Austria: xii + 831 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Biswas, Ash K. (1974). Energy and the Environment. Planning and Finance Service, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Canada, Report No. 1, 42 pp.Google Scholar
Biswas, Asit K. (1977). Environmental implications of energy development. American Society of Civil Engineers, Engineering Issues, 103 (EI 1), Proc. Paper 12681, pp. 49–59.Google Scholar
Biswas, Asit K. (in press). Models for Water Quality Management. McGraw-Hill, New York, NY.Google Scholar
Biswas, Asit K. & Cook, B. (1974). Beneficial Uses for Thermal Discharges. Planning and Finance Service, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Canada, Report No. 2,173 pp.Google Scholar
Brett, J. R. (1969). Résumé—temperature and fishes. Chesapeake Science, 10, pp. 275–6.Google Scholar
Bridges, J. E. (1975). Biologic Effects of High Voltage Electric Fields. Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, California, Report 381–1. [Not available for checking].Google Scholar
Bridges, J. E. (1977). Environmental Considerations Concerning the Biological Effects of Power Frequency (50 or 60 Hz) Electric Fields. In: Proceedings IEEE PES Winter Meeting, Paper F77-256-1, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, New York, NY: 17 pp., mimeogr.Google Scholar
Brock, T. D. (1975). Predicting the ecological consequences of thermal pollution from observations on geothermal habitats. Pp. 599–621 in Environmental Effects of Cooling Systems at Nuclear Power Plants. IAEA, Vienna, Austria: xii + 831 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Cairns, J. (1970). Ecological management problems caused by heated wastewater discharge in the aquatic environment. Water Resources Bulletin, 6(6), pp. 868–78.Google Scholar
Cairns, J. (1976). Heated wastewater effects on aquatic ecosystems. Pp. 32–8 in Thermal Ecology II (Ed. Esch, G. W. & McFarlane, R. W.). ERDA, Washington, DC: ix + 404 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Coutant, C. C. (1975). Temperature selection by fish-A factor in power-plant impact assessments. Pp. 575–95 in Environmental Effects of Cooling Systems at Nuclear Power Plants. IAEA, Vienna, Austria: xii + 831, illustr.Google Scholar
Duckworth, H. E., Duckworth, H. W., Porter, A. & Rogers, J. S. (1977). Environmental Aspects of Nuclear Power Development in Canada. Canadian Environmental Advisory Council, Occasional Paper No. 2, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Canada: 53 pp.Google Scholar
Economic Commission For Europe [cited as ECE] (1975). Environmental Aspects of Energy Production and Use, With Particular Reference to New Technologies. Report ENV/R. 43, ECE, 15 12, Geneva, Switzerland: 42 pp.Google Scholar
Economic Commission For Europe (1978). Environmental Aspects of Energy Production and Use, With Particular Reference to New Technologies. Report ENV/R. 43/Add. 2, 12 01, 15 pp.Google Scholar
Electric Power Research Institute [cited as EPRI] (1975). Transmission Line Reference Book 345 kV and Avove. Fred Weidner and Son, New York, NY: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Esch, G. W. & McFarlane, R. W. (Ed.) (1976). Thermal Ecology II. Proceedings of a Symposium, Augusta, Georgia, 2–5 April 1975. ERDA Symposium Series CONF-750425, Energy Research and Development Administration, Washington, DC: ix + 404 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Fern, W. J. & Brabets, R. I. (1974). Field Investigations of Ozone Adjacent to High Voltage Transmission Lines. IEEE Paper T 74 057-6, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, New York, NY: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Fry, F. E. J. (1971). The effect of environmental factors on the physiology of fish. Pp. 79–134 in Fish Physiology (Ed. Hoar, W. S. & Randall, D. J.) Vol. 6. Academic Press, New York, NY: Vol. 6 [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Gibbons, J. W. (1976). Thermal alteration and the enhancement of species populations. Pp. 27–31 in Thermal Ecology II (Ed. Esch, G. W. & McFarlane, R. W.). ERDA, Washington, DC: ix + 404 pp., illustr. [see also Esch & McFarlane, above].Google Scholar
Hammond, A., Metz, W. & Maugh, T. (1973). Energy and the Future. American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, DC: xi + 180 pp.Google Scholar
Harleman, D. R. F. & Stolzenbach, K. D. (1972). Fluid mechanics of heat disposal from power-plant generation. Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics, 4, pp. 7–32.Google Scholar
Heath, W. G. (1967). Ecological significance of temperature tolerance in Gulf of California shore fishes. J. Arizona Academy of Sciences, 4, pp. 172–8.Google Scholar
Hendrickson, P. L., Bahl, R. W., Gray, B. A. & Maynard, W. S. (1974). Measuring the Social Attitudes and Aesthetic and Economic Considerations which Influence Transmission-line Routing. Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Richland, Washington, Report BNWL-1837, 7 pp.Google Scholar
Hochachka, P. W. & Somero, G. N. (1973). Strategies of Biochemical Adoption. W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Hutchison, V. H. (1976). Factors influencing thermal tolerances of individual organisms. Pp. 10–26 in Thermal Ecology II (Ed. Esch, G. W. & McFarlane, R. W.). ERDA, Washington, DC: ix + 404 pp. [see also Esch & McFarlane, above].Google Scholar
International Atomic Energy Agency [cited as IAEA] (1971). Environmental Aspects of Nuclear Power Stations. Proceedings of a Symposium, New York, 10–14 August 1970, Doc. STI/PUB/261, IAEA, Vienna, Austria: 970 pp.Google Scholar
International Atomic Energy Agency [cited as IAEA] (1973). Nuclear Power and the Environment. Doc. STI/PUB/321 (Rev.), IAEA, Vienna, Austria: 85 pp.Google Scholar
International Atomic Energy Agency [cited as IAEA] (1974). Thermal Discharges at Nuclear Power Stations: Their Management and Environmental Impacts. Doc. STI/DOC/10/155, IAEA, Vienna, Austria: 155 pp.Google Scholar
International Atomic Energy Agency [cited as IAEA] (1975 a). Environmental Effects of Cooling Systems at Nuclear Power-plants. Proceedings of a Symposium, Oslo, 26–30 August 1974. Doc STI/PUB/378, IAEA, Vienna, Austria: 831 pp.Google Scholar
International Atomic Energy Agency [cited as IAEA] (1975 b). Combined Effects of Radioactive, Chemical and Thermal Releases to the Environment. Proceedings of a Symposium, Stockholm, 2–5 June 1975. Doc. STI/PUB/404, IAEA, Vienna, Austria: 360 pp.Google Scholar
International Atomic Energy Agency [cited as IAEA] (1977). Urban District Heating Using Nuclear Heat. Proceedings of a Symposium, Vienna, 15–19 March 1976, Doc. STI/PUB/461, IAEA, Vienna, Austria: viii + 209 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Jackson, R. H., Hudman, L. E. & England, J. L. (1978). Assessment of the environmental impact of high-voltage transmission lines. Journal of Environmental Management, 6(2), pp. 153–70.Google Scholar
Janes, D. E. (1977). Background information on high-voltage fields. Environmental Health Perspectives, 20, pp. 141–7.Google Scholar
Kaufman, G. E. & Michaelson, S. M. (1974). Critical review of the biological effects of electric and magnetic fields. In Biologic and Clinical Effects of Low-frequency Magnetic and Electric Fields (Ed. Llaurado, J. G. et al. ). Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Illinois: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Kitchings, J. T., Shugart, H. H. & Story, J. D. (1974). Environmental Impacts Associated with Electric Transmission Lines. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Report ORNL-TM-4498, pp. 1–41.Google Scholar
Lee, S. S. & Sengupta, S. (Ed.) (1977). Waste Heat Management and Utilization. Proceedings of a Conference, Miami Beach, 9–11 May 1976. Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida: 3 vols.Google Scholar
Nuclear Energy Policy Study Group (1977). Nuclear Power Issues and Choices. Ballinger, Cambridge, Massachusetts: xvi + 418 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Solandt Commission (1975). Transportation: A Public Inquiry into the Transmission of Power Between Lennox and Oshawa. Report to the Government on Ontario, Toronto: 213 pp.Google Scholar
Strefer, C. (1975). Interaction mechanisms of radioactive, chemical and thermal releases from the nuclear industry. Pp. 3–11 in Combined Effects of Radioactive, Chemical and Thermal Releases to the Environment. Doc. STI/PUB/404, IAEA, Vienna, Austria: 360 pp.Google Scholar
Sylvester, J. R. (1972). Possible effects of thermal effluents on fish: A review. Environmental Pollution, 3 (3), pp. 205–16.Google Scholar
United Nations Environment Programme [cited as UNEP] (1976). Review of the Impact of Production and Use of Energy on the Environment. Report of the Executive Director, Document GC/61/Add. 1, UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya: 107 pp.Google Scholar
US Atomic Energy Commission (1974). Nuclear Power Growth 1974–2000. Report WASH-1139, mimeogr., AEC, Washington, DC: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
US Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture (1970). Environmental Criteria for Electric Transmission Systems. US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (1976). Nuclear Energy Centre Site Survey-1975: Part III, Technical Considerations. US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Workshop on Alternative Energy Strategies (1977). Energy: Global Prospects 1985–2000. McGraw-Hill, New York, NY: xxv + 291 pp.Google Scholar