Such indirect emissions, however, are a function of the structure of the existing electricity system, not of the individual technology being produced. The only local air-polluting emissions from the generation stage of the nuclear fuel cycle are minor operational radionuclide emissions. The contributions to background radiation from these operation emissions are numerically minute, and thus the radiological risks that such emissions might cause (possibly fatal and non-fatal cancers, genetic effects, etc.) This is compounded by the emission of large amounts of PM, S02, NOx, and toxic metals, common throughout all carbon-based sources, with significant damages to public health and ecosystems. When compared to any carbon-based source, air-polluting emissions from nuclear power generation are numerically extremely small.