| Date | May 2010 | Marks available | 3 | Reference code | 10M.3.sl.TZ1.E2 |
| Level | SL | Paper | 3 | Time zone | TZ1 |
| Command term | Discuss | Question number | E2 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
State the characteristics and sources of low-level nuclear waste.
The disposal of nuclear waste in the sea is now banned in many countries. Discuss one method of storing high-level nuclear waste and two problems associated with it.
Markscheme
low activity and short half-life;
materials (e.g. gloves, paper towels, clothes) that have been in proximity to radioactivity / any named source (such as smoke detectors);
methods:
vitrification / encasing in concrete / burying in deep places;
problems: [2 max]
may leak into water table;
remains active for a very long time;
geological instability (e.g. earthquakes);
potential weapon for terrorists;
Examiners report
Few candidates stated both low activity and a short half-life as characteristics of low-level nuclear waste, but many correctly identified sources.
Several candidates lost a mark for the storage of high-level nuclear waste by failing to specify deep burial of the waste. The discussion of problems associated with the storage was answered reasonably well.
