What Radioactive Waste? Low-leve 1 radioactive wastes include ordinary materials that have become contami nated with radioactivity. Gloves, clothing, and trash can be contaminated. Resin beads, like those used in water softeners, remove radioactive contamination from cooling water at nuclear power plants. Nuclear reactor components, mechanical parts, tools, and equipment become contaminated during routine use. These materials must be disposed of as low-level waste. Low-level radioactive wastes come from the generation of electrical energy, from industries that use radioactive materials to make their products, and from medical tieatment and research. Low-level radioactive waste does not include high-level radioactive wastes such as fuel rods from nuclear power plants or highly radioactive wastes from weapons production. High-level radioactive wastes are a federal responsibility and will not be accepted at Pennsylvania’s facility. All radioactive materials "decay” 01 lose their radioactivity over time. Low-level iddioactive wastes are classified according to the amounts of radioactive materials they contain and the length of time those materials remain radioactive Low-level wastes may potentially remain radioactive for hundreds of years and must be propeily managed and disposed of in secure disposal facilities. According to tedeial and state regulations, the disposal facility in Pennsylvania must be designed to keep radioactive materials isolated from people and the environment for 500 years. Source: Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. Source: PA Department of Environmental Resources. \e Low-Level Where Poes Radioactive Waste Come From? There are more than I,ooolicensed users of radioactive materials in fhmeytvania. Each year, about 120 of them generate radioactive waste requiting disposal. fixator Unoduction Nuclear power plants generate electricity for homes, schools, offices, and factories. Nuclear power plants generate between 35% and 37% of the electricity consumed in the state each year. As a result of frequent power exchange among utilities, most Pennsylvania citizens use electricity generated by nuclear power during the course of the year. Pennsylvania has 10 existing (nine operating) commercial nuclear reactors in five locations. ConmMnarfhaduct» Radioactive materials are used to pro duce a variety of consumer goods, ranging from smoke detectors to lumi nous exit signs. Radioactive materials are also used to check for cracks in metal pipes, bridges, and jet engines. Source: Appalachian Compact Users of Radioactive Isotopes. AVBWOE AMMUAL WASTE SHIPPED FOR GENERATOR CATEGORY Power Plant Medical Academic Government Industrial 1 "1"-,. -- - J. 1 ’ Y Source: PA Department of Environmental Resources. Doctors routinely use radioactive materials to diagnose and treat disease. Radioactive materials are used to scan organs and follow blood flow through the body (images of the blood vessels of the heart muscle are illustrated in the photo to the right). Radioactive materials also contribute to the healing process, particularly in the treatment of cancer. Research laboratories involved in the study of4iscasc ; atxlthe development and testing of new medicines use radioactive materials, as do industries that manufacture radiopharmaceuticals and radiochemicals. In the field of environmental science, radioactive tracers are used to determine the effect of pollutants on plant life. / CUBIC FEET 101,356.3 3,358.8 1,558.3 880.1 36,945.9 Mmlnifv CURIES 98,220.4 5.6 10.2 5,456.8 4,575.0 % 70.4 2.3 1.1 0.6 25.6 Source: American College of Nuclear Physicians. Source: Appalachian Compact Users of Radioactive Isotopes. 90.7