What are the options for the long-term management of intermediate level and high level radioactive waste?
top of page What are the risks from long term storage of radioactive wastes? Surface storage may leave a facility vulnerable to terrorist attack or dispersion through accidents. However surface storage greatly eases the long-term management of the material. Underground storage may be less vulnerable to attack but carries a risk of contamination of ground water. Both options present significant challenges eg, in designing structures that will last many centuries. top of page Does radioactive waste, discharged or stored, represent a significant risk for the peoples of the UK? For the vast majority the impact of radioactive waste is very small if not insignificant. Even for people who live near major nuclear sites, the risk is small compared to the other risks of modern living. In planning for long term storage solutions, the Government has set stringent risk targets for the public, which will be used in the selection and development of the site(s). top of page Are GPs qualified to carry
