Definitions For Technical Terms

 

 
Curie A Unit describing how radioactive something is. Named for radiation pioneers Pierre and Marie Curie
Radionuclide
A radioactive element
Half-life Time needed for radioactivity to reduce in half. After 10 half-lives, material is deemed fully decayed.
Transuranic
Radioactive, Man-made elements, inclines Plutonium
High-Level Waste Created from chemical separation of uranium and plutonium from other radioactive material. Defined by origin, not Curie amount or Radionuclide
 
Low-level Waste
 
Radioactive waste that isn't spent reactor fuel, high level waste or containing large amounts of transuranic waste.
Mixed-Low Level Waste Low-level waste combined with hazardous chemicals.
   
   
 
 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
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