Nuclear Waste

Introduction

The Earth's oceans cover approximately three-fourths of the world's surface. Less than one century ago, it would have been difficult to imagine that humans could significantly pollute these vast bodies of water. For as long as there have been human inhabitants along the coast, people have been utilizing the ocean as a dumping ground for garbage and other rubbish. Although several view the ocean as endless and thus, having plenty of room for the waste; this belief is not true. The ocean can not accommodate dumpings without being permanently damaged. Furthermore, the immense technological revolution of the last century has increased society's ability to cause greater damage to the world's oceans.

Nuclear Industry

The development of nuclear industry has been a cornerstone for the world's technological revolution. Since the discovery of fission more than a half century ago, nuclear power has become a major source of the world's electricity supply. By 1989, 416 nuclear power plants were in operation, thus providing approximately seventeen percent of the world's electricity (Waczewski, 1997). With more than one hundred nuclear operating plants, the United States easily gains the title as having the world's largest nuclear energy program.

Radioactive Waste

However, utilizing nuclear power has several implications. One of the most severe is that nuclear technology produces a great amount of toxic waste that remains radioactive for thousands of years. Thus, the waste must be disposed of in a safe manner so to avoid the contamination of future generations.

Ocean Dumping Regulation

The government's Ocean Dumping Regulation of 1989 severely limits what can be disposed of in the oceans. The regulation serves to protect the Earth's oceans from contamination through mutagens, carcinogens, teratogens, and radioactive materials. Furthermore, the ordinance attempts to ensure that negative consequences arising from ocean dumping are short-term, localized, and most importantly, its impact on the environment is kept to a bare minimum.

Nuclear Dumping

Despite all the severe consequences of ocean dumping, the government does not pay heed to its own regulations. In the past, the world's oceans were considered by industry and certain governments as convenient out-of-sight, out-of-mind dumping grounds. For example, "the United States began the practice of dumping nuclear waste into the oceans by dumping "an estimated 112,000 drums or containers at thirty sites in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans before the Senate declared a moratorium on the activity in 1982" (Waczewski, 1997). In 1970, the United States ceased its practice of nuclear dumping in the ocean due to economical, not environmental factors. The practice of ocean dumping was not considered to be as economically efficient as other disposal medians.

Seabed Burial

A possible remedy to dumping the nuclear waste into the ocean is to bury the waste into the mud of remote ocean sites. Under one of the proposed methods, nuclear waste would be packed into metal containers and transported via ship to the pre-selected burial site. However, there is a debate concerning whether seabed disposal of radioactive wastes would constitute dumping. Instead of merely burying the nuclear waste, other means of disposal must be explored. The answer to the nuclear waste problem cannot be resolved by burial for it will only be discovered by future generations.

Solution

Nuclear power is an industrially available source of energy that will certainly continue to be utilized by future generations. Thus, a functional solution must be discovered to protect the environment from any further damage that can be caused by nuclear waste. One possible solution is to further research the recycling of radioactive materials. In the United States, research in this area of nuclear waste recycling has not been tested to its greatest potential.

Conclusion 

The relationship between the ocean and nuclear waste will continue for thousands of years. This is due to the vast quantities of radioactive waste that has already been dumped into the ocean. However, it is our responsibility to protect the environment and to ensure the Earth for future generations. Nuclear recycling is a plausible solution and it is not too late to expedite the research in this area.

References

Trudeau, Rebecca, The Ocean Dumping Act; University of Florida,1994.

Waczewski, James, Legal, Political, and Scientific Response to Ocean Dumping, Florida

State University, 1997.