What are Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste ?

Conference · Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2002

OSTI ID:808033

DOE,

Spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste are materials from nuclear power plants and government defense programs. These materials contain highly radioactive elements, such as cesium, strontium, technetium, and neptunium. Some of these elements will remain radioactive for a few years, while others will be radioactive for millions of years. Exposure to such radioactive materials can cause human health problems. Scientists worldwide agree that the safest way to manage these materials is to dispose of them deep underground in what is called a geologic repository.

• Research Organization: Yucca Mountain Project, Las Vegas, NV (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy (US)
• OSTI ID: 808033
• Resource Relation: Conference: Conference title not supplied, Conference location not supplied, Conference dates not supplied; Other Information: PBD: 1 Dec 2002
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
CESIUM
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
NEPTUNIUM
NUCLEAR FUELS
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
STRONTIUM
TECHNETIUM