Radioactive waste is generated from nuclear processes and contains radioactive materials. There are different types classified by their activity level and lifespan. Highly active, long-lived waste requires deep geological disposal due to associated health and environmental risks. Current international standards call for engineered, multi-barrier repositories isolated in stable rock formations underground. Temporary storage and transportation of nuclear waste also present challenges that must be safely managed to prevent contamination.

1. RADIOACTIVE WASTE
MANAGEMENT

2. Radioactive waste generation
• Radioactive wastes are usually the waste materials containing
radioactive material. It is the product of a nuclear process such as
nuclear fission and decay.

3. INTRODUCTION
Radio activity
 Certain elements that compose matter emit
particles and radiations spontaneously. This
phenomenon is referred to as ‘radioactivity’
 Three different kinds of rays; Alpha, Beta and
Gamma rays are associated with radioactivity.
The alpha rays consist of particles (nuclei of
helium atoms) carrying a +ve charge, beta rays
particles have –ve charge (streams of electrons)
and gamma rays are charge less EM radiation
 Radioactive elements decay at different rates.
 Rates are measured as half-lives – that is, the
time it takes for one half of any given quantity of a
radioactive element to disintegrate.
 The longest half-life is that of the ‘isotope’ 238U
of uranium. It is 4.5 billion years. Some isotopes
have half-lives of years, months, days, minutes,
seconds, or even less than millionths of a second.

4. Penetration of radioactive rays

5. Introduction
Radio active waste
 Radioactive wastes are waste that contain radioactive material.
 Radioactive wastes are usually byproducts of nuclear power generation and other applications of
nuclear fission or nuclear technology, such as research and medicine.
 Radioactive waste is hazardous to human health and the environment, and is regulated by
government agencies in order to protect human health and the environment.
 So for the disposal of this radio active waste lot of steps are needed

6. TYPE OF RADIO ACTIVE WASTE
High activity, long life
Medium activity, Long life
Low activity, Long life
Medium activity, Short life
Low activity, Short life

9. nuclear WASTE DISPOSAL
Currently, internationally preferred solution is for geological disposal by
interment in a mined and engineered, multi-barrier repository . Engineered
disposal system has generally been constructed at or near the surface for
wastes with low-level radioactivity and wastes with short-lived radioactivity.
It is being built or is planned to built deep underground in geological formation
for high-level and long-lived wastes.

10. The nuclear wastes are stored in a repository for a long period of time

11. Transport & Storage issues related to Radio Active nuclear waste
• The radioactive wastes can be transported to the repositories and from
mines with the help of lead castle. The burial of radioactive waste has
been an efficient method for its disposal, but the risks involved in it also
have to be taken into account.
• One of the problems that can occur is that a leakage in the repositories
can cause contamination in the water table thereby which when reaching
the surface can affect crops and other life.

12. Bioremediation of Nuclear waste