Question 1

Uranium mining and milling can result in waste that contains gamma radiation.

Accepted Answer

Uranium mining and milling processes generate waste materials that contain radioactive elements, including uranium and its decay products. These materials can emit gamma radiation, which is a type of ionizing radiation that poses health risks to humans and the environment.

Question 2

A common method of dealing with the radioactive waste at uranium mining and milling sites is to

Accepted Answer

All of these methods are commonly used to deal with radioactive waste at uranium mining and milling sites. Covering the waste with soil can help to contain the radioactive materials, fencing off the site can restrict unauthorized access, and putting up warning signs can inform people about the potential hazards.

Question 3

Low-level radioactive waste results from spent fuel rods.

Accepted Answer

Low-level radioactive waste typically includes items like tools, protective clothing, wiping cloths, and medical tubes that have been contaminated with small amounts of radioactive substances, not spent fuel rods. Spent fuel rods are considered high-level radioactive waste.

Question 4

The two viable solutions to the management of spent nuclear fuel are underground deposit or reprocessing of fuel rods.Which of the following statements concerning these two options is correct?

Accepted Answer

Several countries in Europe and Asia, such as France and Japan, have reprocessing plants for spent nuclear fuel.

Question 5

Most experts feel that the best solution for permanent disposal of high-level nuclear waste is to bury it in a stable geologic formation.

Accepted Answer

Experts generally agree that burying high-level nuclear waste in stable geological formations, such as deep geological repositories, is the safest and most effective method for its long-term disposal. This approach isolates the waste from the biosphere, reducing the risk of radiation exposure to humans and the environment.

Question 6

The nuclear power industry has had little trouble disposing of high-level nuclear waste due to recent technology.

Accepted Answer

Disposing of high-level nuclear waste remains a significant challenge for the nuclear power industry, as it requires long-term storage solutions that can safely contain the radioactive materials for thousands of years. Recent technologies have not fully resolved these issues.

Question 7

Which of the following would be considered low-level radioactive waste?

Accepted Answer

Low-level radioactive waste typically includes items like clothing, tools, and filters, which become contaminated with radioactive material through their use in nuclear plants or medical facilities. Transuranic waste, which is mentioned in option C, is not considered low-level waste; it is a higher category due to its longer-lived radioactivity. Decommissioning waste from nuclear power plants, mentioned in option A, can vary in radioactivity level and is not exclusively classified as low-level waste.

Quiz 19: Environmental Regulations: Hazardous Substances and Wastes