Most of the Energy consumed today is derived from fossils fuels like petroleum products, Coal and wood. These fuels have taken millions of years to form and can not last for ever. But even today developed and developing nations are busy exploiting fossil fuels from other countries without realizing that they are part of the same planet. The harmful gases and fine particles generated in the process of burning fuel either in furnaces or internal combustion engines have resulted in polluted atmosphere. Its showing up in the health of general public.
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Scientists have linked the warming trend that accelerated in the twentieth century to the buildup of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gasses. By burning fossil fuels, people released some 6.44 billion tons of carbon into the atmosphere in 2002. With less than five percent of the worlds population, the United States is the single largest source of carbon from fossil fuelsemitting 24 percent of the worlds total. |
The green house effect is resulting in more harmful ultra violet light reaching the earth. The sea temperature has started rising the ice caps at Antarctic has started melting slowly but surely. The city atmosphere has become so much polluted that it has become difficult to breath on roads. The down gradation of atmosphere quality has resulted in detonating health condition for very large population.
Researchers have been working hard to develop methods and process to convert energy from different sources to more usable form. Electric energy has become the energy of choice. Electric energy by it self is non polluting and easy to transport over long distance through over head or underground grid wire. A good amount of energy is lost in transportation.
To generate electric energy the cheapest and convent source had been Hydro electric power system. Water dams across big rivers are used to convert potential and kinetic energy of flowing water for turning turbines and in turn they generate electricity by rotating alternators.
Since this energy was not enough for the ever increasing requirement of society, Coal was burnt to produce steam for running turbine and produce electricity. Coal burning produce fine ash particles, carbon mono oxide, carbon dioxide, sulphur oxide etc.
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The atomic power plants were added and were thought to produce cheap electricity with controllable pollution. Soon the waster have piled up and become a major source of dangerous headache. |
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Scientists and politicians once thought that nuclear power was an apparently unlimited power with an enormous potential for peaceful and non-peaceful purposes. After all, just 1kg of uranium could produce as much energy as 3000 metric tons of coal. Enthusiasts even went to the extent of predicting that atomic power would generate electricity "too cheap to metre". |
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Tthe normal operation of nuclear power stations cause little environmental damage. Their tiny radioactive emissions contrast sharply with massive pollution from fossil fuel power stations which contributes greatly to acid rain and the threat of global warming. But accidents at nuclear power stations pose infinitely greater dangers than those at conventional ones. |
The problem of radioactive waste
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Nuclear power produces intensely radioactive wastes, some of which remains lethal for thousands of years. In 1976, the UK's Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution said that it would be "irresponsible and morally wrong" to proceed with a major expansion of nuclear power until a way had been found of dealing with this. |
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No country in the world has yet worked out how to dispose of the most dangerous waste, 10% by volume, but containing 99% of the radioactivity. At present, it is being stored and cooled while industries work out what to do with it. France, Germany and the US hope to begin disposal programmes around 2010 while others are waiting even longer. Meanwhile many countries find it hard to deal with even the less virulent waste. The UK has had to abandon many proposals and has still not evolved a publicly acceptable strategy for its disposal. |
Petroleum derivatives like petrol, diesel, kerosene have been used traditionally to fuel automobile. They pollute atmosphere by giving out fine particle of carbon and other harmful gases.
Electricity by chemical reaction is used in Batteries to generate electricity. Battery acts like a store house and need to be charged from another source periodically. The pollution is minimal, has a life of about three years is portable gives stable and clean power for many and is convenient for many instruments.