As for disposal, several methods exist to keep nuclear material away from humans and vice versa. Geologic disposal (such as the Yucca Mountain facility), transmutation (a process wherein radioactive material is changed into more stable forms), and reuse of fuel material in advanced reactor designs. I'm only aware of storage currently being used, transmutation and advanced reactors are currently under development around the globe.
A great deal of R&D and policy decisions are needed before the nuclear waste issue can be completely solved. The R&D work is being carried out at universities and laboratories around the world and hopefully the policy-makers will have come to their senses before it is too late.
One possible solution to the problem would be to re-enrich the uranium in the spent fuel and develop advanced reactor fuels to burn long-lived radioisotopes (such as transuranic elements). If these can be removed from the waste, the time frame for required observation of geologically disposed waste would be reduced to a few hundred years; a much more manageable scale than the current requirement of thousands of years. Not only would this reduce the long-term waste liability of these materials, it would also provide a new energy source from the spent fuel.
Here are more opinions and answers from other FAQ Farmers:
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.
There are various kinds of harmful ionizing radiation. These include alpha, beta, and gamma rays; free neutrons; X-rays; and ultraviolet light. Depending on the specifics of the waste, nuclear waste can emit alpha, beta, and gamma rays, and neutrons.
No, you will get sick and die from leukemia, or other cancer by the radioactive waste lying around.
Depending on the isotopes in the waste and the amount eaten it may cause anything from instant death to radiation burns to cancer that takes decades to develop.
Nuclear power plants produce large amounts of energy which are generally better then using fossil fuels. The downside, in case you wanted to know, is the waste product is nuclear waste which is highly radioactive, and can give you radiation sickness, or cancer. The waste takes approx. 100,000 years to stabilize.
Because nuclear waste doesn't give off the same radiation as the sun.
Nuclear waste is NOT renewable. It is typically buried and sealed off because of its non-usability and the radiation damage that can afflict people from being in the vicinity of nuclear waste.
Because it emits ionising radiation
The nuclear waste gives off radiation. That radiation in large enough doses changes DNA in cells. When the DNA changes sometimes the cells can become cancerous. In even higher doses the cells will die.
No. It emits radiation and is very harmfull without a proper Radiation Protective equipment
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.
I assume you mean how does nuclear radiation affect the human body. Nuclear energy as used in nuclear power plants has no effect normally as the radiation is well contained. However if you want to know about the effect of radiation on the body, see the link below
Yucca Mountain is a proposed repository site for storing high-level nuclear waste in the United States. The site was chosen for its geologic stability and isolation to prevent radiation from reaching the environment. If approved and constructed, Yucca Mountain would be used to store spent nuclear fuel and other radioactive waste generated by nuclear power plants.
Some surrounding problems with nuclear power include the risk of accidents and radioactive waste disposal. Accidents like meltdowns can have severe consequences for human health and the environment. Additionally, finding long-term solutions for storing radioactive waste safely is a challenge.
it means that either a nuclear rocket or a nuclear lab has exploded letting out nuclear waste and radiation which means the city would have to be evacuated until they are out of the nuclear radation zone.
The waste from nuclear power, known as nuclear waste, is typically stored in secure containers at nuclear power plants or in underground repositories. Different countries have different strategies for managing and disposing of nuclear waste, with some exploring options for recycling or reprocessing it to reduce its volume and radioactivity. Long-term solutions for nuclear waste disposal, such as deep geological repositories, are being developed to ensure safe containment for thousands of years.
There are various kinds of harmful ionizing radiation. These include alpha, beta, and gamma rays; free neutrons; X-rays; and ultraviolet light. Depending on the specifics of the waste, nuclear waste can emit alpha, beta, and gamma rays, and neutrons.