We suspect that most of this chapter will focus on military applications, in particular, the frantic international races to develop atomic and hydrogen bombs, the secrecy surrounding their production, the people, land, water, and natural resources involved, and the consequent hazardous wastes. Efforts at nuclear waste cleanup have accelerated since the end of the Cold War. A change in national perspective dates back to the 1989 disintegration of the Soviet Union. In that year we finally stopped producing nuclear weapons. Since then the realization of the magnitude of the lethal legacy has become more widespread.
Cleanup options range between two extremes.
This option is unacceptable because doing nothing will worsen the problem as buildings and structures deteriorate and contaminants spread through the soil, air, and groundwater. Also, the financial resources needed for this process are enormous and rising. Assessment of the risks is central to developing a strategy for cleanup. Technically these questions are called hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, risk characterization, and risk management. This approach is a rational, but complicated process that provides a framework for cleanup.