Are isotopes with a long Half-Life always dangerous?
No. To illustrate, our bodies contain radioactive elements that have a long half-life, but are not hazardous. Each of us contains trace amounts of Carbon-14, with a half-life of 5,700 years, and Potassium-40, which has a half-life of 1.3 billion years. Although the half-life of these elements is very long, they do not present a health or safety hazard to us. In contrast, radon found in stagnant air has a half-life of about four days. And cigarette smoke contains Polonium-210 and Lead-210 which have a half-life of 20 weeks and 22 years, respectively. Transportation In what form would the waste be contained and shipped to Utah? Most Class A low level waste is shipped by rail, with an occasional truck shipment. Class B and C waste is stabilized for disposal. This means that the waste is either solidified with an UDRC-approved stabilization media or placed inside a UDRC approved high integrity container (HIC). Stability requirements ensure that the waste will maintains its gross physical p
