Understanding Radioactive Waste
Buy a book... In Association with Amazon.co.uk
Author(s): R. Murray
Publisher: Battelle Press
ISBN: 1574771353
Format: softback
231pp
Price: $12.95
Review Date: 08 October 2003
Review: An informed public makes the best decisions. Here Raymond Murray aims to provide as much information as possible about the controversial subject of radioactive waste. He gives facts and figures about nuclear waste plants and the actions that are being planned on a national basis and gives a perspective on the safety of waste isolation systems, distinguishing knowledge from opinion wherever possible. He begins by describing the basic science: the structure of the atom and the chemistry involved, radioactivity, types of radiation, the biological effects of radiation, and fission and fission products. He goes on to look at the evolution of the use of radioactive material; the Manhattan project and the uses of isotopes and radiation. The various types of nuclear waste are described: defence waste, commercial waste and spent fuel from nuclear reactors. The author looks at the different ways of disposing of nuclear waste and discusses which is the best method.