Abstract:
United States has produced radioactive waste that will remain highly toxic for 250, 000 years. They are created when used fuel is removed from commercial and military reactors. The material is dissolved in acid and the reuseable fission products are reclaimed, and remaining brew of liquid waste including strontium, cesium and plutonium are the most toxic and long lived substances. Strontium and cesium take about six hundred years to become harmless and emit radiations that can cause cancer. Plutonium remains effective for 250, 000 years, and emit little radiations if it is inhaled in food, absorbed into the body through skin lesions. Military waste was once hurried under the ground, it was leaked into the soil but would take much time to contaminate the ground water and man`s food chain. The wastes are made to solidify to prevent leaks. In 1970, the nuclear garbage was put into canisters and burnt into a stable salt bed, but according to geologists the water from the near by mine could seep into it and corrode the canisters. It was planned to use steel canisters and concrete casks. Separated wastes would be bombarded by neutrons to burn off more of the fissionable material shortening their hazardous life.
Page(s):
33-34
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Science chronicle, Volume: 13, Issue: 1, Year: 1975