Nuclear Waste

1
Nuclear Waste

• Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 established a
  timetable for choosing preparing sites for deep
  underground disposal for high level waste. Mined
  Geologic Disposal
• Vitrification mixing of liquid high level waste
  with molten glass

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Figure 19.9 Diagram for the tentative plan for
deep underground isolation of nuclear waste.
3
Nuclear Waste

• 1998 WIPP (Waste Isolation Pilot Plant) was
  issued a license to receive waste from the
  military
• Yucca Mountain has been studied as a site for 20
  years for the high level waste generated at power
  plants

4
Effects of Radiation

• Somatic damage damage to the organism resulting
  in sickness or death
• Genetic damage damage to the genetic machinery
  of reproductive cells creating problems affecting
  offspring.

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Factors determining biological damage

• The energy of the radiation (higher, more damage)
• The penetrating ability

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Factors determining biological damage

• The ionizing ability alpha vs. gamma
• alpha is very effective at ionizing
• gamma is neutral and doesnt ionize as readily
• Chemical properties
• How long it remains in the body accumulates in
  body
• Rem indicates the danger the radiation poses for
  humans.

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Effects of Short-Term Exposures to Radiation

• Dose (rem)
• 0-25
• 25-50
• 100-200
• 500

• Clinical Effect
• Nondetectable
• Temporary decrease in white blood cell counts
• Strong decrease in white blood cell counts
• Death of half the exposed population w/in 30 days