answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

High level waste from discharged reactor fuel is extremely dangerous because of its high radioactivity, and much of this has long half-lives. Despite storing it on site for years, it will still be dangerous. If and when a long term repository is designated and approved for use, the waste fuel can be transported there. Provided it is contained in sealed and shielded containers, the transport can be made safe. Once in the repository, which must be carefully selected to avoid flood risks and should be in a low earthquake zone, it should be safe so long as access is denied to anyone who wants to create an incident, ie terrorists. Radioactive materials present the following problems: * They damage the containment vessel, and bathe the surroundings in radiation. * They frequently off gas. * They are frequently water soluble, since they are from the less electronegative end of the Periodic Table... and they oxidize. * They maintain high levels of radioactivity, sometimes for thousands of years. * They can be toxic / cancer producing in miniscule amounts. * They can only be manipulated into easily handled "packages" with equipment that typically then also is made radioactive. You either have to store them where water will not get to them for millenia to come, or dilute them to below background levels (in molecular or atom form, like a plasma) and simply handle them like dirt. They represent a real investment in orignally mining them, so eventually recycling them will be made much more difficult by dispersing them.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What can prevent radioactivity waste?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What sort of waste is produced from uranium mining?

Radioactive wastes (low radioactivity)


Is the radioactive waste from nuclear power plants dangerous?

It contains a higher amount of radioactivity


How could you tell if a rock contained radioactive waste material?

Test for radioactivity with a Geiger counter.


You nuclear wastes must be stored for centuries to prevent dangerous radioactivity from escaping?

Yes


How do you prevent world waste?

You cannot.


Why is it unsafe to bury or incinerate radioactive waste?

Burying it could be safe, provided it is deep in a stable geologic area and somewhere that will not get flooded. Incineration would just scatter the radioactivity to the winds, you can't destroy radioactivity by chemical methods.


How can you prevent nuclear and toxic waste?

you can recyclcel


What are radioactive waste disposal methods?

the methods of radioactive waste disposal varies by the waste form (solid, liquid. gaseous) and the radioactivity level (low, intermediate, high). Primarily; three methods are applied:delay and decay: to maintain waste in tanks for some periods of time to allow decay of radioactivity and then to be disposed of to environment.dilute and disperse: to dispose to environment (through dilution and dispersion, incineration) as ocean, sea, atmosphere, etc.contain and concentrate: This is used mainly for high level radioactive waste as spent fuel or the spent fuel reprocessing products; either in wet storage, dry storage, or vitrifies waste


What is Phosphogypsum?

Phosphogypsum is a by-product of the phosphorus fertilizer industry, produced during the processing of phosphate rock to make phosphoric acid. It contains elevated levels of radioactivity and various impurities, making it a challenging waste material to manage. Proper disposal and storage of phosphogypsum are necessary to prevent environmental contamination.


Would burning be an unacceptable plan for destroying radioactive waste?

Not by any stretch of the imagination. Storage is the only viable solution to radioactive waste by today's technological limits. Incineration would release radioactivity to the environment.


How do you prevent financial crisis?

You dont waste your money..


Why isn't it advisable to jump in radioactive nuclear waste water?

It's not advisable to jump into radioactive nuclear waste water because radioactivity has been proven to cause cancer and a hose of other diseases. Unfortunately life isn't like a comic book where jumping into radioactivity can give you super powers. You will probably just wind up very ill.