The environmental implications of generating electric power from nuclear fission
have been a matter of concern since the construction of the earliest nuclear
reactors and power stations in the 1950s. After two or more decades of
construction of nuclear power stations, this ceased in many countries, largely
as a result of concerns for the environment and human health. However, the
pressing need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is leading many countries to
plan extensive new programmes of construction of nuclear power stations which
serves to re-emphasise concerns over environmental impacts. Volume 32 of the
Issues in Environmental Science and Technology series is concerned with
reviewing the political and