Skip to main content
Like
Create new Glog
previous
next
Email share
22 views | 0 likes | 0 reposts
Radioactive waste has a number of radioisotopes,; unstable configurations of element s that over time emit ionizing radiation. This waste is generally harmful to the health of humans and the environment. Different isotopes deacy at different rates.
The main goal when disposing of radioactive waste is to protect people and the environment. The most dangerous of waste is stored underground in secure facilities, less harmless wastes are isolated, dilluted, or transmutated to ensure that the isotope is rendered harmless.
There are several different types of radioactive waste: Low Level Waste: generated from hospitals and industry, which includes papers, tools, filters, etc. that contain a small amount of short lived radioactivity. This waste is compacted and incinerated, aweapons production, and consists of clothing, tools, rags, residues, debris and other items contaminated with small amounts of radioactive elements (mainly plutoniumnd prepared for shallow land burial. Intermidiate Level Waste: contains a higher amount of radioactivity, generally needs to be shielded before diposed of. Includes resin, sludge, metal reactor fuel, etc. This type of waste isn't recognized by the US. High Level Waste: produced by nuclear reactors, generated in the reactor core. It is generally highly radioactive and thermally hot. HLW accounts for 95% of radioactive waste produced by nuclear electricity. Transuranic Waste: the most dangerous of radioactivity, TRUW is defined as waste that is contaminated with alpha-emitting transuranic radionuclides that have a half life of over 20 years. This waste is generated by weapons production, and consists of clothing, tools, rags, residues, debris and other items contaminated with small amounts of radioactive elements (mainly plutonium).
RADIOACTIVE WASTE
