Research on Radioactive Waste

Radioactive waste is an ongoing environmental issue that has been discussed by environmentalists since the invention if nuclear power plants. The radioactive waste contains radioactive material that is harmful to the environment and all surrounding inhabitants. The danger of the waste depends on the type of material within the waste. The waste is categorized into multiple categories.

            The most basic of forms is categorized as uranium tailings. This waste is the leftover of processed uranium ore. The content is not always radioactive, but contains harmful materials such as arsenic. The radioactive pieces are not very dangerous, and are usually left out and become safe to handle within a few hours.

            The next category is low-leveled waste. This waste is risky to handle after it is produced. The source of this waste is mainly produced from operations taking place at a factory. After a few hours, days, or weeks, the waste can be handled and dealt with.

            The level not commonly seen is the intermediate-leveled waste. This is not a category seen in the United States. It describes the waste found in a chemical sludge. Some of the waste is more dangerous than the low-leveled waste, but the larger risk is that the waste can stay at a dangerous level for a few years.

            The most dangerous, and sadly the most common form, is the high-leveled waste. This is found in the nuclear reactors. This waste is highly dangerous and can cause radiation poisoning. The waste must be stored away for thousands of years before it will be safe to handle. The waste is usually placed within a mountain, using a complex tunnel system. The mountain will prevent the waste from reaching the inhabitants of the earth.

            The problem is that nuclear power is hard to replace. The power produced from the reactors is very difficult to match with other sources of energy. The waste is harmful, but the power produced is viewed currently to outweigh the dangers. The advantages that nuclear power brings to the world cannot be ignored.

            There are two widely accepted solutions to fix this problem of waste. The first would be to find uses for this "waste". The waste is categorized as waste because we have no use for it. If a use is found, we will finally have some uses of the waste beneficial to humanity. The only other solution would be to slowly move away from nuclear power. Wind and solar power sources are becoming more and more popular. The power they produce can never reach the levels of a nuclear power plant, but it is unsure what kind of power can harnessed if these natural sources of energy are mass-produced.