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Do you know anyone who ' d like to learn a bit more about radiation protection? This cut-out sheet will help.
What is Radioactive Waste? Radioactive waste is any material or object that is either radioactive, or has become contaminated with radioactive material, to a level above that defined in legislation and is no longer usable.
Low Level Waste( LLW) contains relatively low levels of radioactivity. Most LLW consists of contaminated items from the operation and decommissioning of nuclear facilities. Typically, contaminated wastes include building materials, equipment and consumables such as cleaning cloths, gloves, and protective equipment. The medical industry( research, teaching or hospitals) also produces radioactive waste as a result of patient radioactive treatments or from research. Many medical wastes are short lived and will decay in time to negligible levels. Longer-lived LLW is typically sent for incineration or compaction to reduce its volume prior to disposal in specially licensed sites. About 94 % of all radioactive wastes( by volume) are in the LLW category.
Low Level Waste
Intermediate Level Waste( ILW) exceeds the upper boundaries for Low Level Waste but does not generate a significant amount of heat. Most ILW consists of nuclear reactor components, graphite from reactor cores and sludges from the treatment of radioactive liquid effluents. Research into nuclear fuel also generates ILW. About 6 % of all
radioactive wastes( by volume) are in the ILW category. Due to the level of radiation, most ILW must be handled remotely.
Intermediate Level Waste
High Level Waste( HLW) also exceeds the upper boundaries for Low Level Waste, but radioactive decay produces significant heat. While nuclear fuel is initially mildly radioactive prior to use in a nuclear reactor, once it has been used, it becomes highly radioactive, no longer usable for reactor operation and is categorised as HLW. Used nuclear fuel is held in shielded storage. Approximately 1,700 m ³ of HLW, less than 1 % by volume of all radioactive wastes, has been produced since nuclear reactors have operated in the UK.
Storage casks for nuclear fuel( high level waste)
All radioactive waste generation and disposal in the UK has to be justified and minimised in accordance with Best Available Techniques( BAT) or Best Practicable Means( BPM) and is strictly regulated by the environment agencies in the UK.
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40 Radiation Protection Today www. srp-rpt. uk