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Nuclear & Radiochemistry

Radioactive Waste

Material containing radionuclides for which no further use is foreseen and which requires controlled disposal.

Unit Bq/kg

In depth

Waste is classified as low, intermediate or high level. High-level waste from spent fuel generates significant heat and must be cooled for decades before being vitrified in glass and destined for deep geological disposal, since some components remain hazardous for many thousands of years.

Examples in the real world

Spent fuel rods in cooling ponds; contaminated laboratory gloves as low-level waste.