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Today, the electric power system is the largest single source of industrial air pollution, besides traffic. Conventional sources of electricity harm human health, destroy ecosystems, add to global warming and have high economic costs. Air pollutants are the major cause of asthma attacks to children and grown ups. Billions of liters of water are used to condense overheated steam in thermal power plants. This heated water can devastate fish population and coral reefs. Like el-nino is warming up the sea, which is caused by the greenhouse effect. Smog, acid rain and heavy metals harm the health of people all over the world. Climatic changes and environmental damage are serious indicators that the status quo is unacceptable.
Oil, coal or other petroleum-based recources are called fossil fuels. They are formed by the decayed remains of prehistoric plants and animals. Burning these fuels creates greenhouse gases that accumulate in the atmosphere and allow high level ultraviolet radiation to pass through. Also sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and carbon oxide are released.
High impact hydro-electric plants damage their surrounding area with their big dams. Also natural river flows are changed and fish populations are killed.
Nuclear energy is produced by causing changes in the nucleus of the atom. There is no air pollution but nuclear plants create dangerous radioactive wastes. They are difficult to dispose and last for centuries.
There are no permanent storage sites for this kind of waste.
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