Reprocessing of nuclear materials to obtain plutonium will soon become a commercial reality. Plutonium, not found naturally on the earth but produced by the fission of uranium, is extremely toxic to both humans and the environment and is a basic component of nuclear weapons. Yet, the element is a potent source of energy and is a fuel of both the light water reactor and of the planned breeder reactor, which will generate more plutonium than it uses. Whether the benefits of an energy economy based on plutonium use are worth the risks is a major question facing the world community, Many nations, believing that plutonium-fueled power plants are the only answer to their electricity supply problems, seem to be willing to gamble with plutonium's dangers.

The United States is in a critical position with regard to the plutonium economy. As a major supplier of uranium, the element from which plutonium can be extracted, the United States may be able to influence world energy policies for years to come. But the issue is delicate, and even a carefully made decision to limit trade in nuclear materials could harm United States foreign relations and work against the nation's hopes to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.