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

Figure 19.9: Diagram for the tentative plan for deep underground isolation of nuclear waste.

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

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.

Factors determining biological damage 1.The energy of the radiation (higher, more damage) 2.The penetrating ability

Factors determining biological damage 3.The ionizing ability – alpha vs. gamma alpha is very effective at ionizing gamma is neutral and doesn’t ionize as readily 4.Chemical properties How long it remains in the body; accumulates in body Rem indicates the danger the radiation poses for humans.

Effects of Short-Term Exposures to Radiation Dose (rem) 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