Where does nuclear waste come from How dangerous is it can it kill you?

1. How can radiation kill you?
2. Can you swim in a nuclear reactor pool?
3. Is nuclear waste green?
4. Where is the most radioactive place in the world?
5. What does radiation feel like?
6. What radiation does to DNA?
7. What is the temperature inside a nuclear reactor?
8. How hot are spent nuclear fuel rods?
9. How hot is a nuclear fuel rod?
10. Why does uranium glow?
11. How toxic is nuclear waste?
12. Can nuclear waste be reused?
13. Is Nagasaki still radioactive?
14. Are smokers lungs radioactive?

How can radiation kill you?

When you eject electrons from atoms you can break chemical bonds, and that's what leads to the microscopic and macroscopic damage that radiation causes.” By breaking those chemical bonds inside our bodies, ionizing radiation can destroy or damage critical components of our cells, leading to injury, and at high enough ...

Can you swim in a nuclear reactor pool?

Even though the pools of water surrounding nuclear reactor cores look radioactive, they usually contain less radiation than the surrounding air. ... So unless you're swimming in the water directly surrounding a nuclear core, you're going to be fine.

Is nuclear waste green?

Nuclear plants also produce low-level radioactive waste which is safely managed and routinely disposed of at various sites around the country. It is a solid. ... The radioactive byproducts of nuclear reactions remain inside the fuel. No green goo anywhere.

Where is the most radioactive place in the world?

2 Fukushima, Japan Is The Most Radioactive Place On Earth

Fukushima is the most radioactive place on Earth. A tsunami led to reactors melting at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Even though it's been nine years, it doesn't mean the disaster is behind us.

What does radiation feel like?

The most common early side effects are fatigue (feeling tired) and skin changes. Other early side effects usually are related to the area being treated, such as hair loss and mouth problems when radiation treatment is given to this area. Late side effects can take months or even years to develop.

What radiation does to DNA?

Ionizing radiation directly affects DNA structure by inducing DNA breaks, particularly, DSBs. Secondary effects are the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that oxidize proteins and lipids, and also induce several damages to DNA, like generation of abasic sites and single strand breaks (SSB).

What is the temperature inside a nuclear reactor?

Here is another important part of reactor technology: The temperature reached in a nuclear reactor is in the range of 300 degrees Celsius. This is higher than the usual boiling point of water, 100 degrees.

How hot are spent nuclear fuel rods?

The heat wouldn't be a big problem. The water temperature in a fuel pool can in theory go as high as 50°C, but in practice they're generally between 25°C and 35°C—warmer than most pools but cooler than a hot tub.

How hot is a nuclear fuel rod?

The universal limit of 2,200°F protects against the fuel pellet centerline temperature approaching the melting point. Allowing the fuel cladding temperature to rise above 2,200°F in turn causes the fuel centerline temperature to rise towards, or past, the melting point.

Why does uranium glow?

According to Collectors Weekly, the fluorescence is due to the UV light exciting the uranyl compound in the glass, causing it to give off photons as it settles back down. Yellowcake is solid uranium oxide. This is the form in which uranium is commonly sold before it is enriched.

How toxic is nuclear waste?

Nuclear waste is neither particularly hazardous nor hard to manage relative to other toxic industrial waste. Safe methods for the final disposal of high-level radioactive waste are technically proven; the international consensus is that geological disposal is the best option.

Can nuclear waste be reused?

Used nuclear fuel can be recycled to make new fuel and byproducts. More than 90% of its potential energy still remains in the fuel, even after five years of operation in a reactor.

Is Nagasaki still radioactive?

The radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki today is on a par with the extremely low levels of background radiation (natural radioactivity) present anywhere on Earth. It has no effect on human bodies. ... Roughly 80% of all residual radiation was emitted within 24 hours.

Are smokers lungs radioactive?

Cigarettes made from this tobacco still contain these radioactive elements. The radioactive particles settle in smokers' lungs, where they build up as long as the person smokes. Over time, the radiation can damage the lungs and can contribute to lung cancer.