Nuclear Fusion & Radioactive Waste: Benefits and Risks

Advantages of Nuclear Fusion

Inexhaustible Fuel Supply

Nuclear fusion offers an inexhaustible supply of fuel.

No Radioactive Waste

This process produces no radioactive waste.

Safety

Nuclear fusion presents no risks of accidents, and the materials used cannot escape the reaction.

Classification of Radioactive Waste

By Half-Life

Waste is classified by its half-life, the time it takes for half of the radioactive atoms to decay. This results in short-lived and long-lived waste.

By Activity

Classification is also based on activity, the number of decays per time and mass. This leads to low and medium-level waste (less than 30 years) and high-level waste (more than 30 years).

By Toxicity

Waste is categorized by toxicity, depending on the type of reactions and quantity over time:

• Group 1: High radiotoxicity
• Group 2: High radiotoxicity
• Group 3: Moderate radiotoxicity
• Group 4: Low radiotoxicity (uranium and hydrogen)

By Physical State

Waste can be gaseous, liquid, or solid. Treatment, storage, and disposal differ depending on the physical state.

Radioactive Waste Management

Treatment

Waste is classified, reduced by compaction, and gases and liquids are immobilized for subsequent isolation.

Release to the Environment

Low-activity, short-lived gases and liquids are released. Accidental releases or leaks can lead to contamination issues.

Storage

High-level waste is isolated using physical and chemical barriers, often in engineered geological repositories, to prevent dispersion.

Potential Nuclear Plant Incidents

While a nuclear plant cannot explode like a nuclear bomb, rigorous standards are necessary to mitigate the risks of radioactive or thermal contamination.

Thermal Pollution

Waste heat from nuclear power plants, generated during energy conversion, can contaminate rivers, the primary source of cooling water.

Radioactive Contamination

Ionizing radiation spreads as electromagnetic waves (X-rays and gamma rays) or particles (alpha and beta particles). This radiation alters biological processes, causing genetic defects, carcinogenic diseases, and even death.

Health Risks

Even small amounts of radioactive material can cause dangerous radiation doses. Purification is challenging, and some isotopes remain radioactive for thousands of years.

Controversy Surrounding Nuclear Energy

Despite economic benefits, nuclear energy raises concerns due to its potential harm to human health, the environment, and the biosphere.