Introduction

In response to harmful effects of traditional sources on the environment and predicted economic gains from investing in alternative energy, many nations are attempting to switch their energy dependency from natural gases and fossil fuels to renewable sources such as hydroelectric plants and solar panels. Though renewable energy appears to be the safest and most reliable path towards creating a stable and more sustainable future, other non-renewable energy sources beyond petroleum are still being used that yield many harmful consequences which require continual attention from governments and other organizations involved in preserving a clean environment. One such source, whose use in providing power is often controversial, is nuclear energy. While there are many issues stemming from nuclear energy that need to be addressed when used, a primary area of concern for the health of citizens and habitats is the problem of nuclear waste management.

What is Nuclear Waste?

Nuclear waste is discarded material that contains radioactive substances which may either have been produced by nuclear power generation or another process such as nuclear fission. This waste poses a serious threat, especially if it is not contained properly. Typically, the greatest damage incurred from mismanagement of nuclear substances is health effects in humans and other animals. Because of health risks due, keeping nuclear materials in controlled areas away from direct contact with people is of utmost importance when trying to avoid harm. Nuclear waste composed of constituent atoms, manoy of which are radionuclides. These radionuclides are made of elements with unstable configuration that go through radioactive decay, which emits ionizing radiation that harmful to human health and the environment. As this occurs, increased risk of health problems including cataracts and cancer can arise.

Types of Nuclear Waste

There are several forms of radioactive waste that can be regulated, including three solid types. The first type, low-level waste (LLW), includes contaminated objects such as items of clothing, shoe covers, syringes, swabs, mops, and injection needles. Depending on the amount of nuclear contamination as well as neutron radiation, the radioactivity of these materials can vary from trace amounts to high radioactivity at levels comparable to those of reactor vessels in nuclear power plants. In addition, nuclear waste also includes intermediate-level waste (ILW).

This type of waste is made up of materials that were exposed to greater levels of radioactivity and thus pose a greater risk to those near the waste. A few examples of waste in this class include chemical sludge, radioactive resin, and spent filter cartridges from waste treatment process work. Lastly, used fuel assemblies from a nuclear reactor constitute high-level waste (HLW). The HLW is by far the most dangerous type of nuclear waste, and contains radionuclides with long-lived radioactivity and fission products that are also highly-radioactive.

Managing Nuclear Waste

Typically, at least one of three methods is used to manage nuclear waste. Two of these principles, concentrate-and-contain and dilute-and-disperse, are frequently used outside of nuclear waste management to control other forms of discarded materials. Using these techniques, workers concentrate waste and then isolate it as much as possible. Alternatively, the waste is diluted and then released into the environment. The delay-and-decay method involves the storage of nuclear waste, followed by incubation periods in which the radioactivity of the waste decreases over time due to the decay of its radioisotopes.

Nuclear Waste Policy