Topic > Radioactive waste and environmental pollution

The reason why we should not support radioactive waste is because it pollutes the environment and reduces tourism. It varies from low activity waste to high activity waste. Also known as nuclear waste. They are divided into three categories; high, low and medium level waste. Low-level waste is generally generated by hospitals, radioactive therapy and also the nuclear fuel cycle. Does not require shielding during handling. High level waste is generated by burning uranium fuel in a nuclear reactor. Requires cooling and shielding. The most significant high-level waste from a nuclear reactor is the used nuclear fuel left over after spending about three years in the reactor generating heat to produce electricity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Low-level waste is disposed of in landfills while higher-level waste, which may be dangerously radioactive, is more difficult to dispose of. It can be reprocessed to mine, processed to extract nuclear fuel, or encased in glass and left deep underground. Intermediate level waste contains higher amounts of radioactivity than low level waste and less than high level waste. This type of waste typically requires shielding during handling and temporary storage. This type of waste typically includes renovation waste, ion exchange resins, chemical sludge and metallic fuel linings. Intermediate-level waste contains 4% of all radioactivity. Intermediate level waste requiring long-term management is transferred to an authorized waste management operator. Stored waiting in a geological repository (long-term) Nuclear waste was once stored in Yucca Mountain since the mid-1980s. The project has languished largely due to opposition from Nevadans who don't want to import such dangerous materials into their backyard. Today, nuclear waste is stored at more than 100 sites across the country. Nuclear waste weakens and destroys DNA, damaging cells enough to kill them or causing them to mutate in ways that could eventually lead to cancer. Preserved by turning it into glass or synroc. Both glass and synroc prevent radioactive waste from mixing with water and being transported into the environment. Synroc is also resistant to high temperatures. They are stored in such a way as to avoid any possibility of radiation exposure of people or any pollution. The radioactivity of the waste is stored in a way that stores high-activity waste for approximately 50 years before disposal. Radioactive waste can remain radioactive for a few months, years or even hundreds of years, and the level of radioactivity can vary. Radioactive waste is extremely toxic as it remains radioactive for a long time and can cause acute radiation sickness. Please note: this is just a sample. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay Nuclear power plants generate about 20% of the electricity in the United States. The challenge of making nuclear power safer does not end after the power has been generated. Nuclear fuel remains dangerously radioactive for thousands of years after it is no longer useful in a commercial reactor. The resulting waste disposal problem has become a major challenge for politicians. Radioactive waste is generated in the states.