Question

Which are risks of using nuclear power plants to generate electricity? Check all that apply.

Nuclear power plants produce highly toxic waste that breaks down very slowly.

Nuclear power plants require undersea drilling that damages marine ecosystems.

Nuclear power plants rely on complex control systems that can fail due to human error.

Nuclear power plants require mining to obtain fuel.

Nuclear power plants produce a great deal of smog and other air pollution even when functioning correctly.

Answer 1

Correct answers:
- Nuclear power plants produce highly toxic waste that breaks down very slowly. (Yes — radioactive waste contains long‑lived radionuclides that remain hazardous for many years.)
- Nuclear power plants rely on complex control systems that can fail due to human error. (Yes — accidents can involve equipment failure and/or operator error.)
- Nuclear power plants require mining to obtain fuel. (Yes — uranium (and sometimes thorium) must be mined, with environmental and health impacts.)

Not correct:
- Nuclear power plants require undersea drilling that damages marine ecosystems. (No — they don’t need undersea drilling; some use seawater for cooling but don’t drill the seafloor.)
- Nuclear power plants produce a great deal of smog and other air pollution even when functioning correctly. (No — operational nuclear plants emit virtually no air pollutants or smog; they do produce thermal discharge and lifecycle emissions from construction/fuel processing.)