On site Disposal of Nuclear Waste

Nuclear waste, whether from a reactor or a discarded missile, is as sensitive a political topic as the means by which the waste was generated.  Whether the disposal concerns low-level or high-level waste, the consensus is that nobody wants the waste disposed of anywhere near them.  Therein lies the problem of what do with the waste.  Should it be stored on-site, or should all nuclear waste be disposed of in one central location.

A large, centralized stockpile of nuclear waste has the potential to be a hazard greater than permanent local storage.  Should an incident occur at the storage, the effects could be farther reaching than calculable.  Even today, scientists are not completely aware of the full extent and long-term repercussions of seepage of waste into any particular ecosystem.

Low-level radioactive materials should definitely be stored locally, at the site of production.  Dissipation of radioactivity can be measured in terms 10-50 years with this type of radioactive material, and containment of the waste is achievable by current methods. 

High-level radiation is a different issue.  Out of sight, out of mind, creates more problems than can be solved.  On-site storage would undoubtedly cause those responsible for the waste to be more conscious of the continuing growth in scope of their problem.  Indeed perhaps, it would be the impetus for advancement in disposal methods.

• Nuclear Waste Disposal.  Rochester History Resources. [article online] 2009.  Available from http://www.history.rochester.edu/class/EZRA/index.htm.  Accessed 28 Nov 2009

Polychlorinated byphenyls (PCBs)

Polychlorinated byphenyls (PCBs) were manufactured as a man-made chemical beginning in the 1920s and are part of a group of compounds called congeners. (1)

Produced globally for use in various industrial and commercial applications, they were favored for their unique characteristics.  Non-flammability, stability, and electrical insulating properties, PCBs were included for use in electrical manufacturing, hydraulics, plastics, paint, and rubbers. (2)

After several decades of use, it was discovered that PCBs aggressively enter the food chain during their manufacture and use, as well as spills and leaks from industrial accidents, or from damage or destruction of the material they were used in.   The high capacity for bioaccumulation in lower reaches of the food chain, made them extraordinarily hazardous to humans.  Typically collecting in sediments, they are ingested by fish, their prey, and so on, until finally entering the human food supply. (1)

Health effects associated with exposure to PCBs are primarily concerned with damages to prenatal conditions; predominantly, the disruption of thyroid hormone systems, which can complete stop, alter or inhibit human brain development.  Excessive exposure to PCBs in postnatal situations can affect brain, eye, heart, immune, kidney, liver, skin, reproductive systems, and could lead to cancer. (1)

1. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBS):  Detox Campaign Fact Sheet. [article online] 2005.  Available from http://assets.panda.org/downloads/fact_sheet___pcbs_food.pdf .  Accessed 2009 Nov 21.
2. PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls).  Pollution Issues.  [article online]  2009.  Available from http://www.pollutionissues.com/Na-Ph/PCBs-Polychlorinated-Biphenyls.html .  Accessed 2009 Nov 21.

Chemical Agricultural Intensification

"Succeeding generations are going to curse us for burning their future raw materials, and they are right.  Not only are we using up valuable resources--petroleum and coal--but we are adding pollution and carbon dioxide which may be contributing to global warming."(1)

As with the ancient civilizations, exploitation of the most important resources is beginning to produce profound effects on environmental conditions familiar to modern man.  Similar to the Anasazi of the American Southwest, modern humans have used every means at their disposal to promote higher agricultural yields, which have promoted excessive population growth.  Expanding populations demand higher yields, in turn spurring explosive population levels, and the vicious cycle simply repeats itself until the environment collapses under the strain; or, conditions force relocation of the burden, as ancients often did. (2)

The impetus for modern intensification of agriculture has been chemistry.  The development and consistent improvement of pesticides and herbicides has nearly negated the biological barriers limiting crop yields, which in turn, has allowed populations to grow to levels never before witnessed in the history of the earth, (3) likely by any species.  Unfortunately, even modern chemistry has been able to discover the means to break the food-population cycle faced by ancient civilizations.  Humanity is facing the same decisions; change to practices that are less environmentally destructive, relocate, or succumb to extinction.

Successive generations will probably not curse 20th century man for the depletion of resources, which we currently perceive as the most valuable.  If humans persist another five thousand years, they will likely have become dependent upon what they perceive to be the most valuable resource of their time.  Our descendants will likely wonder at our civilization, as we do with the Anasazi; hopefully, by then, they will have discovered that conservation of energy is more than just an empirical law; it is a Natural Law, governing all of life on earth.

1. Breslow, Ronald.  Speech.  American Chemical Society Sustainability through Science Symposium.  2001.
2. Larson, Daniel O. et al.  Population Growth, Agricultural Intensification, and Culture Change among the Virgin Branch Anasazi.  Journal of Field Archaeology 1996; 23-1: 55-76
3. Conko, Gregory, and Smith Jr, Fred.  Escaping the Malthusian Trap.  Competitive Enterprise Instistute.  [article online] 1999.  Available from http://cei.org/gencon/019,03109.cfm. Accessed 2009 Nov 7