Question

Which of the following methods is the most suitable for disposal of nuclear waste?
A. Shoot the waste into space.
B. Bury the waste under Antarctic ice-cover
C. Bump the waste within rocks under deep ocean
D. Bury the waste within rocks deep below the Earth’s surface

Answer 1

Hint: Nuclear wastes are a very hazardous kind of waste substance containing radioactive materials. The wastes occur as a by-product of different nuclear processes.

Complete answer: The major constituent of nuclear wastes is Uranium based, and a small fraction of other products of the fission process. Since the materials have a continuous emission of radiation to the surroundings, it has to be appropriately disposed of until no further radiation emits. The waste should be buried into a deep geological repository including the process of burying it inside the rocks, below the surface of the earth. It should be at a depth of a minimum of kms from the Earth’s surface so that it doesn’t cause any kind of a threat to the environment. It is the most widely used and most effective method of disposal.
Considering the other options:
-Space disposal of the waste can sound like an excellent method of disposal, but these pose several threats in the future. One of which is the failure of the launch vehicle leading to the destruction of the vehicle and the spread of the wastes around the Earth’s atmosphere and causing a threat to the planet. The economic impact of the process is very high making it an almost impractical option, with much less reliability.
-Burying the wastes under Antarctic ice can lead to the destroyer of the whole habitat and pose a threat
for the survival of the species there, and is widely restricted.
-Disposal of radioactive wastes under deep oceans can lead to the destruction of the environment and many aquatic organisms, this method is not practiced as a scientific method. But a large amount of waste has been dumped in the ocean over the years.
Thus, the correct answer is Option D, that is it is buried deep down in the rocks.

Note: Exposure to radiations from nuclear waste can lead to many harmful effects such as cancerous growths, genetic problems in both animal and plant species. They can also have a huge impact on the environment as well.