Three degrees, of peril
Inside a reactor, nuclear fuel undergoes remarkable changes. Its uranium breaks down, and apart from releasing energy it produces many different by-pro-ducts as waste, such as strontium, caesium and krypton. Many of these substances are intensely radioactive. Waste comes in three categories: high, intermediate and low level.
© High-level wastes are the most intensely radioactive and can take several thousand years to decay. One of these, plutonium, among the most toxic substances on earth, takes 25,000 years for its radioactivity to fall to half its
current level. Spent fuel rods and waste from reprocessing plants are the main components of this group. The heat generated by radioactive decay means that constant cooling is essential. ® Intermediate wastes are less radioactive and include contaminated reactor parts, diluted waste from reprocessing plants and used radioisotopes. © Low-level wastes are only mildly radioactive and do not need shielding, unlike the more active wastes. Contaminated clothing, equipment and much medical waste fall into this category. Most nuclear waste is of the low-level variety.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19881217.2.91.8
Bibliographic details
Press, 17 December 1988, Page 22
Word Count
170Three degrees, of peril Press, 17 December 1988, Page 22
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.
Log in