Materials in Engineering Systems - Uranium - Research Paper Example

School of Engineering & Applied Science Materials in Engineering Systems EAS 213 Dr. Inserts Research Paper onMaterials Date: December 14, 2011 Uranium is an important resource because of its application as a fuel for nuclear reactors. However, its production, use, and disposal remain very controversial because of its radioactive nature. It carries with it the risk of radiation poisoning which has short term and long-term effects. Politically, it is a divisive issue because of the varying interests, which range from risk of nuclear proliferation, military might, sovereignty, to environmental concern.

Many regulatory agencies and activist groups work towards certain ends in the debate. Uranium seems set for a period of high significance as fossil fuels become scarce. The most viable replacement to Uranium is Thorium. The production of Uranium remains one of the most controversial issues in the energy industry. Uranium is naturally radioactive hence there are a range of issues that attend it entire life cycle. Along with the rest of the nuclear industry, Uranium mining, processing, use and disposal all attract a lot of attention from various parties.

The main producers of Uranium are Kazakhstan, Canada, and Australia. Kazakhstan produces about 23% of the world’s uranium, while together with Canada and Australia, the production is 63% (Dahlkamp 11). Other countries that produce Uranium include Namibia, Niger, Russia, Uzbekistan, and the United States (Dahlkamp 11). There have been several booms in the price of Uranium ore during various stages of the development of the industry. The distribution of Uranium revolves around countries that have direct interests in the nuclear technologies.

The risks associated with the material makes its distribution a highly regulated affair. Several agencies, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, monitor the processing and distribution of Uranium (IAEA 45). Due to its radioactive nature, there are stringent laws governing the distribution of the material. This reduces the risk of radiation poisoning associated with radioactive materials. There are two major uses of uranium. Most of the Uranium mined goes towards the production of energy in nuclear reactors.

This is what commentators call civilian use. The other major use of spent uranium is for the production of nuclear warheads. There are very few viable alternatives to Uranium. The most promising one is Thorium. Some scientists claim that Thorium is easier to use to produce atomic energy compared to Uranium (Forbes). They also contend that the use of Uranium produces less waste and is safer to work with. Another strong point is that the Thorium cycle utilizes all the material mined as compared to Uranium, which uses only a small part of the total material mined.

This means that there is a smaller impact on the environment per unit material mined (Forbes). The current estimates on the availability of Uranium in the long term indicate that at current levels of demand, the known reserves will last another one hundred years. The demand for Uranium may increase rapidly over the next decades because of the pressure on fossil fuels. Coupled with environmental concerns, nuclear power will become more sensible since it has no emissions. This does not mean that there are no environmental concerns.

It only means that nuclear power does not pollute the environment so long as everything is working normally. The use of alternative forms of energy such as solar and wind may reduce the impact of dwindling fossil fuel reserves if they can develop fast enough to provide bulk power. These forces will determine the prices of Uranium ore in the coming decades. There is a lot of scrutiny in Uranium mines hence there are few incidents of labor problems such as use of child labor in the mining of the ore.

The major environmental concern in the life cycle of Uranium is radiation. Uranium is naturally radioactive. This makes it a risk to miners and other people involved in its processing. Due to radioactivity in the natural setting of the mines, often, there are high concentrations of helium in the mines, which predisposes unprotected miners to lung cancer. After mining out the ore, rehabilitation of the land is not as easy as other types of mines. The mines remain a radioactive hazard. Transporting of uranium ore and spent fuel rods remains controversial.

It is the subject of many demonstrations from organizations such as Greenpeace. Disposal of the spent rods is still a subject under heavy debate (Forbes). The spent rods remain radioactive for many years after decommissioning. Uranium has a very long half-life. It is up to the nuclear plant management to ensure that the spent rods do not pose a safety threat to people. The disposal of the rods becomes more problematic because of their potential use as raw materials for nuclear weapons. This means that they are not only an environmental threat, but also a security threat.

The risk of nuclear proliferation is one of the most serious problems all countries in the world face today. Uranium will remain an important mineral for several decades to come. The world knows a lot more today about its benefits and its risks. It has made the production of energy cheap and efficient but it has also proved very difficult to handle when there is an accident. The recent accident in Fukushima, Japan is testament to the risks that come with nuclear power. In conclusion, Uranium as a source of energy remains well positioned for several decades to come.

Works Cited Dahlkamp, Franz J. Uranium Deposits of the World. Berlin: Springer, 2011. Forbes. 4 Clean-Energy Alternatives To Uranium. 26 April 2011. 14 December 2011 . IAEA. Environmental Activities in Uranium Mining and Milling: A Joint Report. Paris: OECD Publishing , 1999.