Disposal of high level nuclear wastes: Thermodynamic equilibrium and environment ethics

Disposal of high level nuclear wastes: Thermodynamic equilibrium and environment ethics 1 corresp first-author E-mail address: marana@alumni.nus.edu.sg E-mail address: marana@alumni.nus.edu.sg marana@alumni.nus.edu.sg Physics Division, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH), Islamabad, Pakistan Physics Division, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH), Islamabad, Pakistan Contamination of soil, water or air, due to a failure of containment or disposal of high level nuclear wastes, can potentially cause serious hazards to the environment or human health. Essential elements of the environment and radioactivity dangers to it are illustrated. Issues of high level nuclear waste disposal are discussed with a focus on thermodynamic equilibrium and environment ethics. Major aspects of the issues are analyzed and described briefly to build a perception of risks involved and ethical implications. Nuclear waste containment repository should be as close as possible to thermodynamic equilibrium. A clear demonstration about safety aspects of nuclear waste management is required in gaining public and political confidence in any possible scheme of permanent disposal. Disposal of high level nuclear waste offers a spectrum of environment connected challenges and a long term future of nuclear power depends on the environment friendly solution of the problem of nuclear wastes. Nuclear Wastes Thermodynamic equilibrium Environment ethics Policy making Public confidence References Lee Y E , Jung Y B . Energy Conv Manage , 2008 , 49 : 1951 - 1959 . Energy Conv Manage Yanase T . Nucl News , 2007 , 50 : 56 - 58 . Nucl News Sovacool B K . Policy Sci , 2007 , 40 : 101 - 122 . Policy Sci MacKerron G . Energy Policy , 2004 , 32 : 1957 - 1965 . Energy Policy Ewing R C . Nature , 2007 , 445 : 161 - 162 . Nature Brown V . Science , 2007 , 315 : 174 - 174 . Science Farnan I , Cho H , Weber W J . Nature , 2007 , 445 : 190 - 193 . Nature Delay J , Rebours H , Vinsot A , et al . Phys Chemis Earth , 2007 , 32 : 42 - 57 . Phys Chemis Earth Ewing R C . Elements , 2006 , 2 : 331 - 334 . Elements Buck E C , Hanson B D , McNamara B K (authors). Gieré R , Stille P (Eds.). Energy, waste and the environment: a geochemical perspective . London : The Geological Socity of London Special Publication , 2004 , 236 : 65 - 68 . Energy, waste and the environment: a geochemical perspective Andersen P K , Ghassemi A , Ghassemi M . Encyclop Energy , 2004 , 4 : 449 - 463 . Encyclop Energy Cederqvist L , Öberg T . Reliabil Engg Sys Safe , 2008 , 93 : 1491 - 1499 . Reliabil Engg Sys Safe Bäckblom G , Martin C D . Tunn Underground Space Technol , 1999 , 14 : 377 - 394 . Tunn Underground Space Technol Bäckblom G . J Nucl Sci Technol , 1998 , 35 : 623 - 630 . J Nucl Sci Technol IAEA report to the government of Japan about earthquake (July 17, 2007) damage at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear . http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2007/kashiwazaki-kariwa_report.html . IAEA report to the government of Japan about earthquake (July 17, 2007) damage at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant prepared by IAEA Mission , 6-10 August 2007 . http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2007/kashiwazaki-kariwa_report.html . Power Plant prepared by IAEA Mission Lestuzzi P , Bachmann H . Eng Struct , 2007 , 29 : 1708 - 1721 . Eng Struct Ghosh A K . Nucl Engg Design , 2008 , 238 : 1743 - 1749 . Nucl Engg Design IAEA staff report, Risks to nuclear reactors scrutinized in tsunami´s wake: International Workshop on Hazards of External Flooding to Convene in India , 16 Aug 2005 . http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2005/tsunami.html . IAEA staff report, Risks to nuclear reactors scrutinized in tsunami´s wake: International Workshop on Hazards of External Flooding to Convene in India Allard T , Calas G , Ildefonse P . Chem Geol , 2007 , 239 : 50 - 63 . Chem Geol Smellie J A T , Karlsson F . Engg Geol , 1999 , 52 : 193 - 220 . Engg Geol Petit J C . Radiochim Acta , 1990 , 51 : 181 - 188 . Radiochim Acta Calas G , Allard T , Balan E , et al . MRS Proceed , 2004 , 792 : 81 - 92 . MRS Proceed Price P B , Walker R M . Appl Phys Lett , 1962 , 2 : 23 - 25 . Appl Phys Lett Wiles D R . The chemistry of nuclear fuel waste disposal , Canada Montréal : Polytechnique International Press , 2006 . The chemistry of nuclear fuel waste disposal Goto S , Kobayashi H , Hideo A , et al . Corrosion-resistant copper alloy , United States Patent 4830825 , 1989 . Corrosion-resistant copper alloy Schwartz M O . Environ Geol , 2008 , 54 : 1485 - 1488 . Environ Geol Oughton D H . Radiat Prot Dos , 1996 , 68 : 203 - 208 . Radiat Prot Dos Weber W J , Ewing RC , Catlow C R A , et al . J Mater Res , 1998 , 13 : 1434 - 1484 . J Mater Res Bradley D J , Frank C W , Milkerin Y . Physics Today , 1996 , April Issue: 40 - 45 . Physics Today Ewing R C , Weber W J , Lian J . J Appl Phys , 2004 , 95 : 5949 - 5971 . J Appl Phys Birol F . IAEA Bulletin , 2007 , 48 : 16 - 20 . IAEA Bulletin MacFarlane A . Bul Atom Scient , 2006 , ( 5-6 ): 46 - 52 . Bul Atom Scient US Department of Energy, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management , Viability Assessment of a Repository at Yucca Mountain. Overview , Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Office (Las Vegas) , Nevada , 1998 . Viability Assessment of a Repository at Yucca Mountain. Overview Thegerström C . IAEA Bulletin , 2004 , 46 : 36 - 38 . IAEA Bulletin 10.13538/j.1001-8042/nst.20.188-192 2008-04-23 2009-06-20 2021-01-19 2009 Nuclear Science and Techniques 03 20