Is burying nuclear waste deep underground a workable option?

Ramani Aswath

Ramani Aswath

@ramani-VR4O43 Oct 12, 2024
Nuclear energy is actually very clean energy. Yet the hazards of the spent fuel and structuaral damage by earthquakes is making it difficult for nations to go in for this. One suggested option is to bury spent fuel very deep underground possibly out of the way from natural calamities.

Is this a viable option?

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  • Harshad Italiya

    Harshad Italiya

    @harshad-ukH5ww May 22, 2012

    bioramani
    Nuclear energy is actually very clean energy. Yet the hazards of the spent fuel and structuaral damage by earthquakes is making it difficult for nations to go in for this. One suggested option is to bury spent fuel very deep underground possibly out of the way from natural calamities.

    Is this a viable option?
    As Nuclear element has a long life time even if we are going to bury it in deep underground it may causes some abnormal activity there and it may be dangerous in future.
  • aarthivg

    aarthivg

    @aarthivg-HH344f May 22, 2012

    bioramani
    Nuclear energy is actually very clean energy. Yet the hazards of the spent fuel and structuaral damage by earthquakes is making it difficult for nations to go in for this. One suggested option is to bury spent fuel very deep underground possibly out of the way from natural calamities.

    Is this a viable option?
    NO.
    It also involves a large land and stable geologic formation.
    And some radio active elements have half-lives longer than one million years and its difficult to control them from leakage for many years.

    I hope, researches are going on for recycling the nuclear waste
  • Ramani Aswath

    Ramani Aswath

    @ramani-VR4O43 May 22, 2012

    Most nuclear spent fuel have half lives in the region of 700 to 800 years. India is in the quiet zone of the seismic map of the world.
    We should not throw the baby out with the bath water. Emotions tend to run high whenever nuclear power is discussed.
  • pratap singh, upendra

    pratap singh, upendra

    @pratap-singh-6xlmve May 25, 2012

    India is in the quiet zone of the seismic map of the world.

    this doesn't mean that we can take the risk of burying the spent fuel in Indian soil. Remember that the nuclear waste tend to bring about modifications in the profile of the soil as a whole and under such conditions, it can lead to disastrous results including degradation of soil quality and strength. This would definitely invite natural calamity to take its toll on fellow countrymen.

    God forbade, if such happens our land will no longer be in the quiet zone of the seismic map of the world.
  • Ramani Aswath

    Ramani Aswath

    @ramani-VR4O43 May 25, 2012

    The waste is not buried in the raw state. If encased properly, there is no effect on the surrounding soil. It will cetainly have no bearing on seismic activity. After all, even now the nuclear ores are underground. In areas of Kerala, it Ilmenite ore is on some beaches.
  • akash.kasina

    akash.kasina

    @akashkasina-3OryfX May 28, 2012

    this idea may sound crazy but what if we disposed the waste in space,no living thing will be affected there!😐
  • Ramani Aswath

    Ramani Aswath

    @ramani-VR4O43 May 28, 2012

    One can just lob it into the sun, which is already a nuclear furnace. Cost is the problem.