Radioactive waste is any waste that contains radioactive material. Radioactive (or nuclear) waste is a byproduct of nuclear reactors, fuel processing plants, hospitals, various industrial applications, and research facilities. Radioactive waste is hazardous to most forms of life and the environment and is regulated by government agencies to protect human health and the environment.
Medical Waste
Radiation is used in a variety of medical examinations and treatments. Doses from medical radiation sources are determined by whether a person underwent a treatment or not. In general, radiation exposures from medical diagnostic examinations are low (especially in diagnostic uses). Doses may also be high (only for therapeutic uses). Still, in each case, they must always be justified by the benefits of accurate diagnosis of possible disease conditions or by benefits of accurate treatment. These doses include contributions from medical and dental diagnostic radiology (diagnostic X-rays), clinical nuclear medicine, and radiation therapy. Radioactive medical waste contains beta particles and gamma rays emitters, which can be divided into two main classes. In diagnostic nuclear medicine, many short-lived gamma emitters such as technetium-99m are used. Many of these can be disposed of by leaving them to decay for a short time before disposal as normal waste.