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What is radioactive waste?

In the radioisotope production process, radioactive waste is produced.  It can be classified in a number of ways.  The physical forms: solid, liquid or airborne; are important, as they impact on the mobility of waste in the environment.  Radioactive wastes are also classified as low, intermediate or high level.  The majority of ANSTO's wastes are low level, but small quantities of intermediate level waste are also produced.  ANSTO produces no high level waste. 

Different wastes give different exposure levels.  Low level waste does not require shielding to protect workers or the community during normal handling and transportation, whereas intermediate level waste needs shielding but does not generate significant heat.  High level waste is the most dangerous, requiring shielding as it is highly radioactive and producing formidable heat through radioactive decay.