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How many years does it take for spent nuclear fuel rods to reach safe levels of radioactivity?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
1 billion years
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
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Does a nuclear generating station make pollution?
No, but the spent fuel must be carefully stored after use because it does contain dangerous radioactivity.
What is the bad in nuclear energy?
Mostly the long lived radioactivity left in the spent fuel, but also any leakage from a damaged plant as at Fukushima.
What is one of the biggest concerns about nuclear power?
The radioactivity of the spent fuel, and the possibility of release to the surroundingsThe biggest concern about nuclear power is the possible meltdown of the reactor causing a massive release of radiation material into the atmosphere.
Is one of the biggest concerns about nuclear power?
The radioactivity of the spent fuel, and the possibility of release to the surroundingsThe biggest concern about nuclear power is the possible meltdown of the reactor causing a massive release of radiation material into the atmosphere.
When or how is a nuclear chain reaction caused by nuclear fission a problem to people?
It is not a problem if it is a controlled chain reaction and all safety measures are in place and used. The primary problem associated with nuclear energy relates to the handling and storage of radioactive waste. Of particular concern is spent or depleted fuel rods. Spent fuel rods are highly radioactive. It takes thousands of years for radioactivity levels of this material to decay to safe levels. Human exposure to such radioactive waste can cause serious health problems and even death. Therefore, radioactive waste, including fuel rods, must be stored in specialized containers. The storage must be secure to prevent theft and/or malicious tampering.
What is the most likely disaster in a nuclear power plant?
proliferation of radio active nuclear waste For US nuclear power plants, this answer is incorrect. The high level waste, which is the spent fuel rods, are under tight control and are kept cool and protected as they decay. The likelyhood of their contribution to a disaster is quite low. The above answer used the word "proliferation", which is associated with countries or groups who do not have nuclear weapons somehow gaining the knowledge and technology. Spent fuel is a poor source for weapons grade nuclear material due to the high levels of radioactivity, which make working with the material a deadly job, and the fact that the plutonium in the spent fuel is not weapons grade. Proliferation is not a likely danger. The most likely disaster is a steam leak which can burn the operators or a coolant leak from the primary plant. Neither of these events constitute a "disaster". Nuclear power plants are much more fearful when Hollywood designs them than the real things are. == ==
Why are spent fuels rods from a nuclear reaction stored in water?
There is still appreciable heat being produced in spent fuel after it is unloaded, due to the radioactivity of the fission products, so it needs to be cooled. A water filled pond does this, and also provides shielding so that the fuel assemblies can be manipulated under water into containers for storage. At some later time, when the radioactivity has dropped off, and if required, the assemblies can be removed into dry casks, but they would still need to be shielded for personnel protection.
How do you make americium?
Americium is extracted from spent nuclear fuels where is formed by nuclear reactions.
How much money is spent on nuclear weapons worldwide?
Well...I cannot say about how much has been the money spent on nuclear arms worldwide but nuclear weapons have cost the United States at least $5.48 trillion since 1940....!!
Which is more of a threat transporting nuclear fuel waste or transporting toxic chemicals?
spent nuclear fuel
How do scientist collect pure plutonium?
Irradiation of uranium in nuclear reactors, separation from the spent nuclear fuel, refining
How nuclear waste destroy environment?
We don't normally allow this to happen, the nuclear waste is tightly controlled. But after a disaster as at Chernobyl, the surrounding area is contaminated with radioactive fall out, so crops grown there or animals grazed there would also be affected.
