Which description defines radioactive waste?

• A. Neutron
• B. Atom
• C. Radioactive waste
• D. Protons

Answer: (C)

Radioactive waste is material that contains or is contaminated with radioactive material and requires special handling, shielding, monitoring, and disposal to protect people and the environment. It is not a type of particle or a basic building block of matter. Neutrons and protons are subatomic particles, and an atom is the basic unit of matter; some atoms can be radioactive, but those terms describe particles or units, not the leftover material. Radioactive waste can come from many sources, like used nuclear fuel, medical or industrial contaminated items, or filtration media, and it varies in how hazardous it is and how it must be managed. The key idea is that it’s material that is radioactive and must be treated and disposed of under regulatory controls.