radioactive waste
Spent reactor byproducts
Radioactive waste is material contaminated with radioactive substances, typically produced by nuclear power plants, weapons facilities, medical procedures, or research.
It remains hazardous for periods ranging from days to thousands of years depending on the isotopes involved.
Storage and disposal present persistent environmental and political challenges: The debate over where to store radioactive waste has stalled for decades.
Environmental harm from waste
- leakageUnintended fluid escape
- spillAccidental liquid release
- falloutPost-blast atmospheric particles
- exposureState of being unprotected
cleanup · decontamination · groundwater · ecosystem · biohazard · protective gear · disposal · hazmat
Used nuclear material
- transuranicHeavier than element 92
- radionuclidesAtoms with unstable nuclei
- plutoniumActinide, atomic number 94
- uraniumElement ninety-two
cesium-137 · strontium-90 · iodine-131 · actinides · isotopes · nuclear fuel cycle · cladding · yellowcake
Period for fifty-percent reduction
- millenniaThousand-year periods
- geological timescaleEarth's temporal framework
- uranium-238Predominant uranium isotope
- plutonium-239Fissile actinide isotope
carbon-14 · thorium · transmutation · becquerels · curies · disintegration
Preventing hostile expansion
- vitrificationTransformation into glass
- encapsulationSurrounding on all sides
- reprocessingHandling material again
- underground vaultBuried secure chamber
Causes cancer
- mutagenicCausing permanent DNA changes
- teratogenicCausing fetal malformations
- cancer riskChance of malignancy developing
- thyroid damageInjury to neck gland
bone marrow · genetic damage · chronic exposure · sieverts · rem · bioassay · dosimetry
pollution
Environmental harm from waste
exposure · cleanup · decontamination · groundwater · ecosystem · biohazard · protective gear · disposal · hazmat · exclusion zone
spent fuel
Used nuclear material
- transuranicHeavier than element 92
- radionuclidesAtoms with unstable nuclei
- plutoniumActinide, atomic number 94
uranium · cesium-137 · strontium-90 · iodine-131 · actinides · isotopes · nuclear fuel cycle · cladding · yellowcake · depleted uranium
half-life
Period for fifty-percent reduction
- millenniaThousand-year periods
- geological timescaleEarth's temporal framework
- uranium-238Predominant uranium isotope
plutonium-239 · carbon-14 · thorium · transmutation · becquerels · curies · disintegration
containment
Preventing hostile expansion
- vitrificationTransformation into glass
- encapsulationSurrounding on all sides
- reprocessingHandling material again
carcinogenic
Causes cancer
- mutagenicCausing permanent DNA changes
- teratogenicCausing fetal malformations
- cancer riskChance of malignancy developing
thyroid damage · bone marrow · genetic damage · chronic exposure · sieverts · rem · bioassay · dosimetry
- Hanford SiteManhattan Project, tank farms, downwinders, cleanup efforts, cleanup operations
- nuclear wastedisposal sites, spent fuel, repositories, underground storage, repository
- pollutionair pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, smog, noise pollution
- Contaminantspollutants, pollutant, heavy metals, toxin, pesticides
- ocean pollutionoil spills, plastic pollution, marine debris, chemical spills, ocean dumping
- wastetrash, garbage, rubbish, refuse, debris
radioactive wastebiodegradable waste
Trash that decomposes naturally
green waste · recyclables · compost · food scraps · organic waste
radioactive wastecompost
Decayed organic fertilizer
fertilizer · clean energy · biodegradable materials · renewable resources · organic matter
waste, wasted, radiant, wasteful, radiate, wasting, wastes, radiance, radiation