Radiation Glossary U-Z
Uranium
a naturally occurring radioactive element whose principal isotopes are Uranium-238 and Uranium-235. Natural uranium is a hard silvery-white shiny metallic ore that contains a minute amount of Uranium-234.
Uranium Mill Tailings
naturally radioactive residue from the processing of uranium ore. Although the milling process recovers about 95 percent of the uranium, the residues, or tailings, contain several naturally-occurring radioactive elements, including uranium, thorium, radium, polonium, and radon.
V
Vadose Zone
the unsaturated, moisture-bearing layer of soil between groundwater and the surface
Vitrification
the process of converting materials into a glass-like substance, typically through a thermal process. Radionuclides and other inorganics are chemically bonded in the glass matrix. Consequently vitrified materials generally perform very well in leach tests. EPA has specified, under the land disposal restrictions, vitrification as the treatment technology for high-level waste (55 FR 22627, June 1, 1990).
W
Whole Body Exposure
An exposure of the body to radiation, in which the entire body, rather than an isolated part, is irradiated.
XYZ
X-rays
high-energy electromagnetic radiation emitted by atoms when electrons fall from a higher energy shell to a lower energy shell. These rays have high energy and a short wave length. X-rays are very similar to gamma rays.
Yellowcake
a mixture of uranium oxides that can vary in proportion and in color from yellow to orange to dark green (blackish) depending on the temperature at which the material was dried (level of hydration and impurities). Higher drying temperatures produce a darker, less soluble material. Yellowcake is commonly referred to as U3O8. This fine powder is packaged in drums and sent to a conversion plant that produces uranium hexafluoride (UF6) as the next step in the manufacture of nuclear fuel. (Ref. Nuclear Regulatory Commission)
Yield
used to describe the power of an nuclear explosion; the amount of TNT required to create an equivalent explosion
Yucca Mountain, Nevada
The site of the U.S. Department of Energy's proposed repository for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. EPA established the public health and environmental radiation protection standards for the facility.
Zirconium
metallic element used in coating nuclear fuel rods and in corrosion-resistant alloys. Deposits of zirconium (in the form of zircon or zirconium) frequently include natural radioactive materials.