ENG-3.H—Describe the effects of the use of nuclear energy on the environment

Describe the effects of the use of nuclear energy on the environment.

• Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima are three cases where accidents or natural disasters led to the release of radiation. These releases have had short- and long-term impacts on the environment.
• A radioactive element’s half-life can be used to calculate a variety of things, including the rate of decay and the radioactivity level at specific points in time.
• Enduring understanding ENG-3: Humans use energy from a variety of sources, resulting in positive and negative consequences.