Radioactive waste refers to any material that contains radioactive atoms that are no longer useful or desirable. The word "radioactive" is pronounced /ˌreɪ.di.əʊˈæk.tɪv/, with stress on the third syllable. The IPA phonetic transcription breaks it down as "ray-dee-oh-AK-tiv." The word is spelled as it is pronounced, with the "-eo-" in the second syllable being commonly pronounced as a long "ee" sound. The word "waste" is pronounced /weɪst/, sometimes with a silent "e" at the end.
Radioactive waste refers to material that contains radioactive substances and remains hazardous to human health and the environment due to its radioactive properties. It is a byproduct of various activities involving nuclear reactions, such as nuclear power generation, medical treatments using radioactive materials, nuclear research, and industrial applications.
Radioactive waste is categorized into two main types: high-level and low-level waste. High-level waste primarily consists of spent nuclear fuel from reactors, which emits high levels of radiation and remains radioactive for thousands of years. This waste requires complex management and long-term isolation in order to prevent exposure to humans and limit potential environmental contamination.
Low-level waste, on the other hand, encompasses a wider range of materials with lower levels of radioactivity. This includes materials from hospitals, research facilities, and industries that use or produce radioactive substances. Low-level waste can consist of protective clothing, laboratory tools, equipment, or filters contaminated by radioactive materials. While low-level waste generally poses a lower risk compared to high-level waste, it is still potentially hazardous and requires proper handling, storage, and disposal.
The safe management of radioactive waste involves several steps, including containment, transportation, and ultimate disposal in specially designed facilities. The aim is to ensure that no harm is caused to people or the environment throughout the lifecycle of the waste, while minimizing the risk of accidental exposure, leakage, or release of radioactive substances.
The word "radioactive" is derived from the word "radioactivity", which was coined by French physicists Marie and Pierre Curie in 1898. They used the term to describe the spontaneous emission of radiation from certain elements.
The word "waste" originated from the Old English word "wast", meaning "desolate" or "uninhabited". Over time, it developed into the meaning of discarded or unwanted material.
The combination of these two words, "radioactive waste", refers to any material that contains radioactive substances and is no longer needed or useful.