Radioactive wastes are generated in the nuclear fuel cycle as well as in nuclear applications. The radiological and safety risk from radioactive wastes varies from very low in short-lived, low-level wastes up to very large for high-level wastes.¹

Annually about 200,000 m3 of low-level and intermediate-level waste and 10,000 m3 of high-level waste (as well as spent nuclear fuel destined for final disposal) is generated world wide from nuclear power production.²

The high-level waste contains about 99 per cent of the radionuclides and thus represents the largest radiological risk.³

Impact on environment

• pollution of water (rivers, fresh water sources, see)
• pollution of soil (forests, fields, agricultural crops)
• pollution of air (radioactive cloud)
• pollution of food chain

Impacts of ionizing radiation will depend on its nature, the dose absorbed, the organ touched. Depending on the dose and type of radiation, impacts can be cancer, genetic mutation (which can also affect future generation) and death.⁴