Radiation helps break down toxic waste
Gamma rays can activate common minerals found in underground nuclear waste storage tanks, and the activated minerals speed up the decomposition of toxic organic compounds that are also present.
References:
Zacheis, G.A., K.A. Gray, and P.V. Kamat. 1999. Radiation-induced catalysis on oxide surfaces: Degradation of hexachlorobenzene on g-irradiated alumina nanoparticles. Journal of Physical Chemistry B 103(April 8):2142.
Further Readings:
1993. Reversal on nuclear waste tests. Science News 144(Nov. 6):303.
Brooks, A.C. 1995. A glass melange. Science News 147(Jan. 21):40.
Monastersky, R. 1997. Relying on geology to jail nuclear waste. Science News 152(Nov. 1):277.
______. 1997. A nuclear waste experiment at sea? Science News 151(Jan. 4):15.
______. 1994. Faults found at Nevada nuclear waste site. Science News 145(May 14):310.
Raloff, J. 1997. Hanford tanks: Leaks reach groundwater. Science News 152(Dec. 20&27):410.
______. 1997. Court orders DOE to take nuclear fuel. Science News 152(Dec. 6):366.
Sources:
Donald M. Camaioni
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
P.O. Box 999, K2-57
Richland, WA 99352
Kimberly A. Gray
Northwestern University
Department of Civil Engineering
A322 Technological Institute
2145 Sheridan Road
Evanston, IL 60208-3109
Web site: http://www.civil.nwu.edu/
Prashant V. Kamat
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame Radiation Laboratory
Notre Dame, IN 46556-0579
Web site: http://www.nd.edu/~pkamat/
From Science News, Vol. 155, No. 15, April 10, 1999, p. 229. Copyright © 1999, Science Service.
