Which statement describes a con of nuclear energy (fission)?

• A. Waste Is Easily Disposed Of
• B. No Radioactive Waste
• C. Completely Inexpensive
• D. Waste Is Difficult To Dispose Of, Pollution Is Deadly

Answer: (D)

Nuclear energy from fission has the advantage of producing a lot of power with very low emissions during operation, but the major drawback is what to do with the spent fuel and other radioactive waste. That waste remains dangerous for thousands of years, so it must be safely contained and stored for extremely long periods. If containment fails or over time, the released radioactive material can cause serious harm to people and the environment. That makes waste disposal difficult and pollution potentially deadly, which is the strongest con among the options. The other ideas—waste disposal being easy, having no radioactive waste, or being completely inexpensive—don’t reflect the real challenges and costs associated with managing nuclear waste.