Re: Entombment

Lew, concrete is a typical way to control radioactive materials at nuclear plants (although I’m unaware of parts of plants being entombed in the past*). There have basically been two options for disposal of radioactive waste: bury it or store it onsite until it either decays or a better idea comes along. Note that recycling waste into new fuel, at least in the US, is illegal due to treaties. In any case, if the waste is in liquid form, concrete is a way to contain it whether burial or storage is pursued. If Fukushima turns its pools of radioactive cooling water into concrete, this will contain the radiation and prevent it from further polluting the environment and food chain. NB: The plants were destroyed once they started using seawater to cool the reactors.

*UPDATE: Ken Lee writes to tell me that Chernobyl was entombed.

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10:30 am on March 31, 2011