While nuclear energy avoids many of the pollution drawbacks associated with the increased burning of fossil fuels, there are many risks associated with the use of nuclear fuels for energy.

Environmental dangers exist in reference to obtaining, using, and storing the wastes from these fuels.

Many of the waste products of used nuclear fuel stay in the environment for thousands of years and release radiation which is harmful to humans or other living things.

Additionally, the water used to cool many nuclear reactors must be released eventually to the environment.

The thermal pollution associated with this released heat into the water is potentially dangerous to the aquatic life in the area where this hot water is released.