answersLogoWhite

0

If you put nuclear waste in a situation where groundwater can flow over it on the way to a water course, you will obviously get contamination. Nuclear waste stores have to be very carefully considered to find locations that are safe from water access.

User Avatar

Wiki User

16y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Music & Radio

Can our nuclear waste go in to your water?

no, its not safe to dispose nuclear waste in water,rather it would be safe to dispose it in common salt trenches.


Are water boatmen dangerous?

Water boatmen believe is the family Corixidae. These insects are flat, boat-shaped and long. These insects are not dangerous.


How is nuclear waste created?

High level nuclear waste is created in two main ways: - Nuclear energy reactors during normal operations generate radioactivity which affects metals and water in the plant; also used-up fuel is left over after being used for reaction. - Nuclear weapons programs use nuclear reactors to create plutonium with a lot of radioactive byproducts. The leftover materials and just about everything that comes near the weapons material becomes nuclear waste. Low level nuclear waste is created in many ways, some of them not so obvious. - Hospitals use radiation in cancer treatment, nuclear imaging, etc. - Homes use radioactive materials in smoke detectors. - Naturally occurring radiation can effectively be concentrated in air and water filters, such as radon filters for well water. - Naturally occurring radiation can be concentrated in coal ash by coal-fired power plants, often along with dangerous pollutants like mercury. There are many other sources of low level nuclear waste and many tons of it must be safely disposed.


Does nuclear waste dissolve?

Nuclear waste is a mixture of various substances but held within the fuel rods which are encased in zircaloy, and these are not soluble in water. In fact the spent fuel is stored under water to both keep it cool and prevent radiation to power plant staff. This is safe for the short to medium term, but for long term storage something more permanent is required. Over thousands of years the fuel cladding could deteriorate and allow radioactive substances to leak out, and there could be some contamination if water was to flow through the storage area. So the long term store needs to be underground but in a geological formation which is known not to have had water present in the past.


Why is nuclear waste considered so dangereous?

The most harmful of which are gamma rays. When the human body is exposed to radiation, it can cause tumors and can do extreme damage to the reproductive organs. For this reason, problems associated with radioactivity can be passed on to the victim's children as well. That is why radioactive waste produced by nuclear power plants is so dangerous.

Related Questions

How does the water become contaminated 50 miles from the damaged nuclear reactors in Japan?

mostly ocean currents carry the contamination


What did nuclear fallout from chernobyl do to ground and surface water?

The nuclear fallout from Chernobyl contaminated the ground and surface water with radioactive materials, such as cesium-137 and strontium-90. This has resulted in long-term contamination of water sources and ecosystems and poses health risks to humans and wildlife who may come into contact with the contaminated water. Efforts have been made to monitor and mitigate the impact of this contamination.


The most threat of human health from water supplies?

One of the biggest threats to human health from water supplies is contamination by harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites. This can lead to waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, and giardiasis. Proper treatment and monitoring of water sources are essential to prevent these health risks.


Is evaporation dangerous to us?

no, its simply water vapor, but with pollution acid rain could be some kind of a threat.


What happens to ground water after a nuclear test?

After a nuclear test, the ground water can potentially become contaminated with radioactive materials. This contamination can persist for a long time and pose risks to human health and the environment. Monitoring and cleanup efforts are typically required to address the contamination and protect groundwater quality.


Losing control of the fission reaction in a reactor core may result in .?

a nuclear meltdown, which can lead to a release of radioactive materials into the environment and pose a serious threat to human health and the surrounding ecosystem. It can result in contamination of air, water, and soil, causing long-term environmental damage and requiring extensive cleanup efforts.


How do nuclear weapons affect the atmosphere hydrosphere lithosphere biosphere?

Nuclear weapons can have detrimental effects on the atmosphere through the release of radioactive particles and chemicals. They can also contaminate the hydrosphere through fallout deposition and water pollution. The lithosphere can be impacted by ground disturbances, such as cratering and soil contamination. Additionally, nuclear weapons can disrupt ecosystems and harm biodiversity in the biosphere through radioactive contamination and habitat destruction.


What is resource contamination?

contamination of water resources by excessive inputs of nutrients is called resource contamination


Does the death of a fish result in water contamination?

No, the death of a fish does not typically result in water contamination.


What are environmental consequences of nuclear energy?

The primary environmental consequence of nuclear energy is unwanted radioactive contamination. This can be in aerial release of steam, or water pollution in the cooling cycle and in affected groundwater. The spent nuclear materials from reactors (nuclear waste) must be stored away for thousands of years before they pose no threat to biological organisms. They have the capacity to pollute large areas unless properly handled. A secondary and limited consequence may be thermal pollution from the waste heat released into the environment. However, this is only a factor at a minority of reactor sites.


Is rust in a kettle dangerous?

Rust in a kettle is not necessarily dangerous to health, but it can affect the taste and quality of the water or food being prepared in it. It is recommended to avoid using a kettle with rust, as it may indicate deterioration of the material and potential contamination.


Is Plutonium water contamination or not?

The water contamination with plutonium is of course possible but fortunately very, very rare and not significative.