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Radioactive waste with half lives of tens of thousands of years is by definition not particularly radioactive. It is however reasonably well contained; roughly
by VBprogrammer 6y ago
Radioactive waste with half lives of tens of thousands of years is by definition not particularly radioactive. It is however reasonably well contained; roughly a truck load in a year. Where as CO2 is defused through the atmosphere in a way which makes it very difficult to recapture.
- manquer 6y ago> Radioactive waste with half lives of tens of thousands of years is by definition not particularly radioactive Sure plutonium-239 with half life of 24,000 is not particularly radioactive, neptunium-237 has half live of more than 2 million years, both are extremely dangerous to humans for multiples of that time. Half live is not directly related to the level of damage gamma decay can do to you. Elements are perfectly capable of emitting hazardous amounts of radiation for thousands and millions of years time. We cannot barely build a phone to last 3 years, The incentive to not create problems for future generations is simply not there. If it was, we would doing a lot more for pollution and plastics and the mass extinction event we are currently causing. I don't believe our track record as a species warrants any trust on the ability to build containment to last thousands of years.
- VBprogrammer 6y agoPlutonium-239 is an alpha emitter. Nuclear missiles on submarines actually have to spend more money to create highly pure Plutonium-239 specifically because it's long half life means it has a low rate of spontaneous emissions. This makes it safer for crew who have to live and work in close quarters with these missiles.