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What is the problem with disposing of radioactive wastes is that they have a long what?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Radioactive substances have half-lives. This is because the isotope constantly is changing from the radioactive isotope to a daughter element. For example, eventually, when uranium's radioactivity is gone, it becomes lead. After one half life of a radioactive substance, only 50% of that substance is still radioactive. Therefore, after one half-life, a piece of uranium is 50% lead and therefore %50 less radioactive. After another half-life, it has 25% of the original radioactivity, and 75% of the original uranium has become lead. This is the problem with radioactive wastes. It takes many years just for one half lives for some substances, such as uranium. Because radioactivity is harmful, those substances have to be stored until they are no longer radioactive. So, in short, the problem with disposing of radioactive wastes is that they have long half-lives. (although this is not true with ALL substances because some have short half-lives, but, in general, radioactive substances have long half-lives.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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What is the most dangerous type of waste?
Though e-wastes and bio medical wastes are the dangerous wastes, the most dangerous type of waste, to the best of my knowledge, is radioactive wastes due its long standing ill effects. -answer by rajasekaransk
Why are nuclear waste sometimes said to be a problem too difficult to solve?
Nuclear wastes are sometimes said to be a problem too difficult to solve because the waste stays radioactive for so long. The only thing that gets rid of nuclear waste is time.
What do people do to nuclear wastes presently?
The nuclear wastes are currently placed in underground storage units (long tubes of radioactive waste materials) all over the country or all over the world.
Why are nuclear waste at times said to be a problem which is too complicated to solve?
Nuclear wastes are sometimes said to be a problem too difficult to solve because the waste stays radioactive for so long. The only thing that gets rid of nuclear waste is time.
What offers the best hope for safe long term containment of radioactive wastes?
I would say transporting it to Pluto, where it would be harmless. On Earth, maybe encase it in a gigantic lead box? Cement -- radioactive water combines to make a solid.
What is the biggest problem with radioactive waste?
It has a very long half-life. Disposal of radioactive waste is the biggest problem. Proper disposal is essential to ensure protection of the health and safety of the public and quality of the environment including air, soil, and water supplies.
What is biggest problem with radioactive waste?
It has a very long half-life. Disposal of radioactive waste is the biggest problem. Proper disposal is essential to ensure protection of the health and safety of the public and quality of the environment including air, soil, and water supplies.
How do you use the word radioactive in a sentence?
That area will be radioactive for a long, long time.
What is the biggest with radioactive waste?
The biggest problem with radioactive waste is how to safely and properly dispose of it. Finding suitable disposal facilities for radioactive waste is difficult. Depending on the type of waste disposed, the disposal facility may need to contain radiation for a very long time.
What is a muscle that is not used for long periods and it wastes away?
A muscle that is not used for long periods of time and it wastes away is called an atrophied muscle.
What has the author T M Ahn written?
T. M. Ahn has written: 'Long-term kinetic effects and colloid formations in dissolution of LWR spent fuels' -- subject- s -: Deterioration, Spent reactor fuels, Radioactive wastes
How long is the half life of radioactive water?
The half life of radioactive water depends on what radioactive nuclides are present in the water.
