POI.ÍTICA NUCLEAR
est adverse effect on the environment. Sulfur, heavy meta1s, carci
nogenic hydrocarbons, and other pollutants emitted during coa1
combustion can have serious adverse eHects on man and his envi–
ronment.
If
controlled properly, ;at a considerable cost, coa1 com–
bUSltion may become less detrimental. However, the emission of
carbon dioxide -an unavoidable consequence of coal burning–
produces a "greenhouse effect" warming the 'earth's atmosphere.
The consequences, which are cumu1ative and 10ng-lasting, may for–
ce coal combustion to be stopped long before the world's supply
of coal is exhausted. Another adverse effect is that the mining of
coal leaves the mined area in a shambles,
if
a costly restoration of
the land to its original shape is not undertaken.
Sooner or later, the world must decide to save oil for automoti–
ve transportation, unless man returns to walking and bicycle, rid–
ing, or e1ectric automobiles become a practical reality.
Hidroelectric power, when water is available, can be generated
without many adverse effects on the environment. Except, of cour–
se, for the flooding of potentialIy valuable land that may be used
for agricultural purposes, and the displacement of wildlife; in
countries like the U. S. A. the displacement of wildlife, 'especiaIly if
it is classiHed as endangered species, can be a reason for the aban–
donment of such projects because us law prohibits the disturbance
of an endangered spedes.
The generation of nuclear power is not without its problems.
As mentioned earlier, nuclear power plants need a lot of water to
cool the nuclear reaotor. This water Íllay be used only once and
discharged into the body of water from which it carne. During the
process, water temperature in the source will increase to levels de–
trimental to water life, if steps are not tJaken to minimize water
temperature increase. Cooling water may aIso be cooled off in
cooling towers so that
it
may be used again in the cooling of the
reactor. Under certain climatological conditions, cooling towers
may produce fog. Accidental radioactive discharges into the cool–
ing water or in the airare also po-ssible, but not probable. Such
probability is continually decreasing as new, more efficient preven–
tive methods are developed.
Contrary to the belief of the uninformed public, the explosion
o( a nuclear power plant, ,Jike a nuclear bomb, is impossible, sim-
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