For how many years should it be possible to store radioactive waste if the fuel pellets in spent fuel rods are processed to remove the plutonium and the other very long-lived radioactive isotopes?
A) about 100 years
B) about 1 000 years
C) about 10 000 years
D) about 100 000 years

Question

For how many years should it be possible to store radioactive waste if the fuel pellets in spent fuel rods are processed to remove the plutonium and the other very long-lived radioactive isotopes? 
A) about 100 years 
B) about 1 000 years 
C) about 10 000 years 
D) about 100 000 years

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When the plutonium and other very long-lived radioactive isotopes are removed from spent fuel rods, the remaining waste still needs to be securely stored. However, the timeframe for safe storage is significantly reduced compared to when those long-lived isotopes are present. The consensus among experts is that such processed waste would need to be stored for about 10,000 years to ensure its radioactivity decreases to safe levels. This is because the remaining isotopes, although less dangerous than plutonium and other long-lived isotopes, still pose a significant radioactive threat for thousands of years.

For How Many Years Should It Be Possible to Store