Nuclear waste

Nuclear waste, also known as radioactive waste, is a type of hazardous waste that contains radioactive material. It is a byproduct of nuclear power generation and other applications of nuclear fission or nuclear technology, such as research and medicine.

Types of Nuclear Waste

Nuclear waste is typically categorized into three types: low-level waste (LLW), intermediate-level waste (ILW), and high-level waste (HLW).

Low-level waste (LLW) is generated from hospitals and industry, as well as the nuclear fuel cycle. It comprises paper, rags, tools, clothing, filters, etc., which contain small amounts of mostly short-lived radioactivity.

Intermediate-level waste (ILW) contains higher amounts of radioactivity and requires some shielding.

High-level waste (HLW) is produced by nuclear reactors. It contains the fission products and transuranic elements generated in the reactor core. HLW is highly radioactive and often thermally hot.

Management and Disposal

The management and disposal of nuclear waste is a complex process that involves a combination of technology, regulation, and societal acceptance. The primary methods of managing nuclear waste include storage, disposal, reprocessing, and transmutation.

Storage of nuclear waste involves holding the waste in a facility for a period of time. This can be a temporary measure while a long-term solution is sought, or it can be a long-term solution in itself.

Disposal of nuclear waste involves isolating the waste from the environment for a significant period of time. This is typically done in a geological repository.

Reprocessing involves treating the waste to extract valuable materials, reducing the volume of waste that needs to be disposed of.

Transmutation involves changing the physical and chemical properties of the waste to make it less hazardous or easier to handle.

Safety and Regulation

The safety and regulation of nuclear waste is overseen by various international and national bodies, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in the United States. These bodies set standards and guidelines for the safe management and disposal of nuclear waste.

See Also

• Nuclear power
• Radioactive decay
• Nuclear fission
• Nuclear fuel cycle