Radioactive waste
Radioactive Waste
Radioactive waste (pronunciation: /ˌreɪdioʊˈæktɪv weɪst/) is a type of hazardous waste that contains radioactive material. Radioactive waste is a by-product of various nuclear technology processes. Industries such as nuclear power plants, medical institutions, research facilities, and nuclear fuel processing plants produce radioactive waste.
Etymology
The term "radioactive" originates from the word "radioactivity", which was coined by Marie Curie in 1898, from the Latin radius meaning "ray" and activus meaning "active". The term "waste" comes from the Old English waste, meaning "desolate, waste".
Types of Radioactive Waste
Radioactive waste can be classified into three main types:
- Low-Level Waste (LLW): This includes items that have been contaminated with radioactive material or have become radioactive through exposure.
- Intermediate-Level Waste (ILW): This contains higher amounts of radioactivity and often requires shielding.
- High-Level Waste (HLW): This is produced by nuclear reactors. It contains the highest levels of radioactivity.
Disposal of Radioactive Waste
The disposal of radioactive waste requires special techniques to ensure the safety of people and the environment. The most common methods include:
- Deep Geological Repository: This is a type of waste repository that is used to store radioactive waste deep within the earth.
- Near Surface Disposal: This involves the disposal of waste at or near the surface of the earth.
- Ocean Disposal: This involves the disposal of waste in the ocean, often in containers that are designed to prevent leakage.
Related Terms
- Radioactivity: The property possessed by some elements of spontaneously emitting energy in the form of particles or waves by disintegration of their atomic nuclei.
- Nuclear Technology: The technology that involves the reactions of atomic nuclei.
- Nuclear Power Plant: A thermal power station in which the heat source is a nuclear reactor.
- Nuclear Fuel Processing: The series of industrial processes which involve the production of electricity from uranium in nuclear power reactors.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Radioactive waste
- Wikipedia's article - Radioactive waste
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski