Nuclear Waste Karlee Stuart

What is nuclear waste ? the radioactive waste left over from nuclear reactors, nuclear research projects, and nuclear bomb production Divided Into Three Low-Level Medium-Level High-Level http://www.snakeriveralliance.org/Portals/2/images/1969dumping.JPG

Sources of waste Nuclear fuel cycle Nuclear weapons reprocessing Legacy waste Medical Naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) Industrial

Nuclear Waste Policy Act Congress passed the act in 1982 The act was to encourage development of repositories for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste Approval by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is needed before a repository can go into use http://www.nicholsoncartoons.com.au/cartoons/new/2005-07-16%20Nuclear%20waste%20far%20away%20226.jpg

Long-lived Radioactive Waste Getting to Humans Animals Atmosphere Water EVERYWHERE

Nuclear Waste Storage They put the left over of nuclear projects in barrels or in containers to do test on the nuclear waste.

Nuclear waste Disposal Methods Deep ocean disposal: - In this method, containers made of borosilicate glass are filled up with nuclear waste. This glass has the capacity to prevent any nuclear radiation from leaking out. The container is enclosed in yet another water-tight metal container and dumped into the ocean. Though these containers are said to be leak-proof, there is a speculation that a minor quantity of radiation does manage to escape from these containers Deep geological burial: - The containers used in this method are similar to the ones used in the deep ocean disposal system. But in this case, the containers are buried deep underground, in less-populated areas. This method depends on the natural decaying ability of the radioactive material for its success. The materials are buried deep under the earth for thousands of years and allowed to settle into a safe level of radioactivity.

Disposal Methods Con’t Nuclear waste recycling - This is a new waste disposal method being looked into. In which the uranium, plutonium and other fission products are separated into different streams using chemical processes. The advantage of doing this is that these products can be re-used or disposed easilier. However, the recycling process is not feasible at present because many countries do not have proper facilities to implement this method, and it is also a costly process.

Nuclear weapons waste Nuclear explosion Heat waves Radiation Pressure waves Radiation Radiation Short-term injuries Radiation Sickness Long-term injuries Radiation to form cancer Malformations of children born Heat Waves burn from explosion Massive fires Pressure Waves injuries from flying objects just pressure waves

Yucca Mountain Two decades of fighting they finally get the project terminated The proposal to dump nuclear waste in the Yucca Mountain has threatened the life and health of the Nevada people

bibliography http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioactive_waste#Nuclear_fuel_cycle http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/peace/abolish-nuclear-weapons/the-damage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_Waste_Policy_Act http://epw.senate.gov/nwpa82.pdf http://reid.senate.gov/issues/yucca.cfm