What is radioactive waste?

Summary

Radioactive waste includes any material that contains radioactive substances with no foreseeable use. In Canada, there are four classes: uranium mine and mill waste, low-level, intermediate-level, and high-level radioactive waste. Uranium mine and mill waste consists of tailings and rock from uranium ore processing. Low-level waste includes items like equipment and clothing from nuclear facilities, requiring isolation for up to several hundred years. Intermediate-level waste contains long-lived radionuclides, requiring longer containment. High-level waste, primarily used nuclear fuel, generates significant heat and radioactivity, needing long-term isolation. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regulates all types of radioactive waste to ensure public safety.

Takeaways

• 💡 Radioactive waste includes liquid, gas, or solid materials containing radioactive substances with no foreseeable use.
• 🛠️ There are four general classes of radioactive waste in Canada: uranium mine and mill waste, low level waste, intermediate level waste, and high level waste.
• ⛏️ Uranium mine and mill waste consists of tailings (fine sand) and waste rock (gravel) from mining and milling uranium ore.
• 📉 Low level radioactive waste is more radioactive than clearance levels allow and requires containment for up to several hundred years.
• 🏭 Nuclear power plants, research reactors, and isotope manufacturers produce low level waste, which includes items like equipment, clothing, and decommissioned parts.
• ⚛️ Intermediate level radioactive waste contains long-lived radionuclides and requires containment for more than several hundred years.
• 🧪 Nuclear facilities and research reactors generate intermediate level waste in the form of old components, resins, and radioactive sources used in therapy.
• 🔥 High level radioactive waste is primarily used nuclear fuel, which generates significant heat and remains highly radioactive.
• ⚠️ High level waste needs long-term isolation and is produced by nuclear power plants and research reactors.
• 🔒 The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regulates all types of radioactive waste to ensure safety for people and the environment.

Q & A

What is radioactive waste?

Radioactive waste is any liquid, gas, or solid that contains a radioactive nuclear substance and has no foreseeable use.

What are the four general classes of radioactive waste in Canada?

The four general classes are uranium mine and mill waste, low-level radioactive waste, intermediate-level radioactive waste, and high-level radioactive waste.

What is uranium mine and mill waste?

Uranium mine and mill waste includes tailings and waste rock generated by the mining and milling of uranium ore. Tailings have a fine sand consistency, while waste rock consists of gravel and broken rock.

What is low-level radioactive waste and where does it come from?

Low-level radioactive waste is more radioactive than clearance levels and requires isolation for up to several hundred years. It comes from nuclear power plants, research reactors, radioisotope manufacturers, uranium refining, and nuclear fuel fabrication facilities.

What forms can low-level radioactive waste take?

It can come in various forms, such as used equipment, paper, cables, clothing, decommissioned parts, and even mops.

What is intermediate-level radioactive waste?

Intermediate-level radioactive waste contains long-lived radionuclides that emit radiation. It requires isolation for longer than several hundred years.

Which facilities produce intermediate-level radioactive waste?

Nuclear power plants, prototype and research reactors, test facilities, and radioisotope manufacturers and users produce intermediate-level radioactive waste.

What are some examples of intermediate-level radioactive waste?

Examples include refurbishment waste such as old components, ion exchange resins, and some radioactive sources used in radiation therapy.

What is high-level radioactive waste?

High-level radioactive waste is primarily used nuclear fuel that generates significant heat and radioactivity, requiring long-term isolation.

Who regulates radioactive waste in Canada?

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regulates all classes and forms of radioactive waste to protect people's health and safety, as well as the environment.