What is nuclear waste?
Nuclear waste is a byproduct from nuclear reactors, fuel processing plants, hospitals, etc. It is also generated by decommissioning and dismantling nuclear reactors/facilities. This includes any clothing, tools, etc. exposed to high radiation levels within the reactor.
What types of waste are there?
There are considered to be 5 types of nuclear waste by the International Atomic Energy Association; those being Very Low-Level Waste (VLLW) and Low-level waste (LLW), which represent around 95% of existing nuclear waste and may include contaminated paper and radioactivity suits, etc. Intermediate-level waste (ILW), which represents around 4% and may include resins, sludge, and metal nuclear fuel cladding. The 4th category is High-level waste (HLW), which represents less than 1% of all waste and is mainly composed of spent fuel rods. This kind of waste accounts for 95% of all radioactivity in all nuclear waste and is mainly found in Cesium-137, Strontium-90, and Plutonium-239 (this may be considered Transuranic Waste). The final category is Transuranic waste (TRUW) which only composes a tiny fraction of all radioactive waste and is mainly created in nuclear weapons production and particle accelerators.
Where is it stored?
VLLW, LLW, and ILW all have industrial-scale long-term storage solutions. VLLW and LLW are placed in Near Surface Disposal in designated landfills. These disposal sites are equipped with an arsenal of safety measures such as specially engineered barriers, cap systems, and 24/7 surveillance. ILW is to be sealed in specially designed, engineered storage facilities. It is then placed in a concrete vault, sometimes encapsulated in grout, where it remains indefinitely. HLW does not have a permanent storage solution. It is first removed from the reactor and placed in cooling pools for approximately 5 years. It is then moved to dry-cask storage for 10 years and then it goes into storage facilities deep underground, often old mines. It is then sealed off using a multi-barrier system that relies on man-made and natural barriers to protect those outside. It must also be located in a region with limited groundwater, stable tectonic activity, and a suitable rock type.
Why is it dangerous?
Nuclear waste is dangerous because it emits ionizing radiation that may cause cancer, reproductive harm, etc. VLLW and LLW are not inherently dangerous and you can touch it without any short-term consequences. ILW is not as radioactive as high-level waste but still requires protection such as radiation suits because it can cause radiation sickness. High-level waste is extremely hazardous and is often very hot when in its most dangerous state. Anyone who gets too close to any HLW will immediately begin to suffer the effects of extremely acute radiation sickness.
Related stories:
https://newatlas.com/environment/nuclear-waste-dispose-explainer/
https://world-nuclear.org/nuclear-essentials/what-is-nuclear-waste-and-what-do-we-do-with-it
https://whatisnuclear.com/waste.html
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-55911-y
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