Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (673 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Liquid, solid, or gaseous waste resulting from mining of radioactive ore, production of reactor fuel materials, reactor operation, processing of irradiated reactor fuels, and related operations, and from use of radioactive materials in research, industry, and medicine. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Radioactive Wastes; Waste, Radioactive; Wastes, Radioactive; Hazardous Waste, Radioactive; Hazardous Wastes, Radioactive; Radioactive Hazardous Waste; Radioactive Hazardous Wastes; Waste, Radioactive Hazardous.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Radioactive Pollutants; Hazardous Waste; Radiologic Health
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 3,371 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Radioactive Waste” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 368 of them (10.9%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 1,280 records.
Reviews account for 195 records (5.8%) and meta-analyses for 1. Randomized controlled trials number 0 (0.0%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 1,280 |
| 2000-2009 | 978 |
| 2010-2019 | 745 |
| 2020 onward | 368 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 195 | 5.8% |
| Meta-analyses | 1 | 0.0% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 0 | 0.0% |
Method: PubMed query "Radioactive Waste"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in public health and nutrition
Population and nutrition studies mostly observe what people eat, breathe or are exposed to and then look for links with health, which shows association and not proof of cause. Self-reported diet is imprecise, people who eat or live differently also differ in other ways, and effects measured across a population may not apply to one person. Check the study design, how exposure was measured, what else was accounted for and the size of the effect, not only whether it was statistically significant.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bio-inspired nano-traps for uranium extraction from seawater and recovery from nuclear waste | 2018 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 165 | cc by PMID 29691403 · DOI · PMC5915388 |
| Humans and ecosystems over the coming millennia: overview of a biosphere assessment of radioactive waste disposal in Sweden | 2013 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 24 | cc by PMID 23619796 · DOI · PMC3636374 |
| Population mixing and leukaemia in young people around the La Hague nuclear waste reprocessing plant | 2002 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 23 | cc by PMID 12232757 · DOI · PMC2364264 |
| Structure and leaching characteristics of basaltic glass-ceramics for immobilizing simulated actinides La, Ce and Nd | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 42748110 · DOI · PMC13580961 |
Bio-inspired nano-traps for uranium extraction from seawater and recovery from nuclear waste [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Nature can efficiently recognize specific ions by exerting second-sphere interactions onto well-folded protein scaffolds.
- Closing excerpt
- Using a combination of spectroscopic, crystallographic, and theory calculation studies, it is revealed that the amino substituent assists in lowering the charge on uranyl in the complex and serves as a hydrogen bond acceptor, boosting the overall uranyl affinity of amidoxime.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (150 words)
Nature can efficiently recognize specific ions by exerting second-sphere interactions onto well-folded protein scaffolds. However, a considerable challenge remains to artificially manipulate such affinity, while being cost-effective in managing immense amounts of water samples. Here, we propose an effective approach to regulate uranyl capture performance by creating bio-inspired nano-traps, illustrated by constructing chelating moieties into porous frameworks, where the binding motif's coordinative interaction towards uranyl is enhanced by introducing an assistant group, reminiscent of biological systems. Representatively, the porous framework bearing 2-aminobenzamidoxime is exceptional in sequestering high uranium concentrations with sufficient capacities (530 mg g-1) and trace quantities, including uranium in real seawater (4.36 mg g-1, triple the benchmark). Using a combination of spectroscopic, crystallographic, and theory calculation studies, it is revealed that the amino substituent assists in lowering the charge on uranyl in the complex and serves as a hydrogen bond acceptor, boosting the overall uranyl affinity of amidoxime.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 29691403 · DOI · PMC5915388
Humans and ecosystems over the coming millennia: overview of a biosphere assessment of radioactive waste disposal in Sweden [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- This is an overview of the strategy used to describe the effects of a potential release from a radioactive waste repository on human exposure and future environments.
- Closing excerpt
- We conclude that future ecosystem can be inferred from a few variables and that this multidisciplinary approach is relevant in a much wider context than radioactive waste.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (148 words)
This is an overview of the strategy used to describe the effects of a potential release from a radioactive waste repository on human exposure and future environments. It introduces a special issue of AMBIO, in which 13 articles show ways of understanding and characterizing the future. The study relies mainly on research performed in the context of a recent safety report concerning a repository for spent nuclear fuel in Sweden (the so-called SR-Site project). The development of a good understanding of on-site processes and acquisition of site-specific data facilitated the development of new approaches for assessment of surface ecosystems. A systematic and scientifically coherent methodology utilizes the understanding of the current spatial and temporal dynamics as an analog for future conditions. We conclude that future ecosystem can be inferred from a few variables and that this multidisciplinary approach is relevant in a much wider context than radioactive waste.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 23619796 · DOI · PMC3636374
Population mixing and leukaemia in young people around the La Hague nuclear waste reprocessing plant [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- In order to investigate for an association between population mixing and the occurrence of leukaemia in young people (less than 25 years), a geographical study was conducted, for the years 1979 to 1998, in Nord Cotentin (France).
- Closing excerpt
- These findings provide further support for a possible infective basis of childhood leukaemia.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (198 words)
In order to investigate for an association between population mixing and the occurrence of leukaemia in young people (less than 25 years), a geographical study was conducted, for the years 1979 to 1998, in Nord Cotentin (France). This area experienced between the years 1978 and 1992 a major influx of workers for the construction of a nuclear power station and a new nuclear waste reprocessing unit. A population mixing index was defined on the basis of the number of workers born outside the French department of 'La Manche' and living in each 'commune', the basic geographical unit under study. The analyses were done with indirect standardisation and Poisson regression model allowing or not for extra-Poisson variation. Urban 'communes' were considered as the reference population. The Incidence Rate Ratio was 2.7 in rural 'communes' belonging to the highest tertile of population mixing (95% Bayesian credible interval, 95%BCI=1.2-5.9). A positive trend was observed among rural strata with increasing population mixing index (IRR for trend=1.4, 95%BCI=1.1-1.8). The risk became stronger for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in children 1-6 years old in the highest tertile of population mixing (IRR=5.5, 95%BCI=1.4-23.3). These findings provide further support for a possible infective basis of childhood leukaemia.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 12232757 · DOI · PMC2364264
Structure and leaching characteristics of basaltic glass-ceramics for immobilizing simulated actinides La, Ce and Nd [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Basaltic glass‑ceramics were prepared by melting basaltic glass, cooling the melt to the nucleation temperature, followed by a two‑stage nucleation‑crystallization heat‑treatment.
- Closing excerpt
- The PCT test results showed the normalized mass loss of Na is the greatest, and the normalized leaching rates of rare earth elements are 4 orders of magnitude lower than that of Si and Na.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (177 words)
Basaltic glass‑ceramics were prepared by melting basaltic glass, cooling the melt to the nucleation temperature, followed by a two‑stage nucleation‑crystallization heat‑treatment. Ce, Nd, and La were used to simulate U, Np, and Am in high‑level nuclear waste (HLW), respectively. The structure and leaching characteristics of basaltic glass-ceramics with different contents of simulated Actinides were investigated. The XRD and SEM results indicated the simulated actinides loading reaches 40 wt.%. When the content of simulated actinides exceeded 20 wt.%, the main crystal phase of the basaltic glass-ceramics was oxyapatite. As the content of the simulated actinides increases, the content of oxyapatite crystals increases, which indicates that an increase in the simulated nuclides content actually promotes the formation of basaltic glass-ceramic. The Raman results showed when the amount of simulated actinides exceeds 20 wt.%, the characteristic spectra of oxyapatite crystals appeared in the Raman spectra. The PCT test results showed the normalized mass loss of Na is the greatest, and the normalized leaching rates of rare earth elements are 4 orders of magnitude lower than that of Si and Na.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42748110 · DOI · PMC13580961
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Metal-organic framework-based materials: superior adsorbents for the capture of toxic and radioactive metal ions [5]
- Research article Removal of TcO4(-) ions from solution: materials and future outlook [6]
- Research article Critical comparison of radiometric and mass spectrometric methods for the determination of radionuclides in environmental, biological and nuclear waste samples [7]
- Research article Paternal exposure not to blame [8]
- Research article Metal binding by bacteria from uranium mining waste piles and its technological applications [9]
- Research article The application of biotechnology to the treatment of wastes produced from the nuclear fuel cycle: biodegradation and bioaccumulation as a means of treating radionuclide-containing streams [10]
References
- Sun Q, Aguila B, Perman J, Ivanov AS, Bryantsev VS, Earl LD, et al.. Bio-inspired nano-traps for uranium extraction from seawater and recovery from nuclear waste. . 2018. PMID 29691403 · DOI · PMC5915388
- Kautsky U, Lindborg T, Valentin J. Humans and ecosystems over the coming millennia: overview of a biosphere assessment of radioactive waste disposal in Sweden. . 2013. PMID 23619796 · DOI · PMC3636374
- Boutou O, Guizard AV, Slama R, Pottier D, Spira A. Population mixing and leukaemia in young people around the La Hague nuclear waste reprocessing plant. . 2002. PMID 12232757 · DOI · PMC2364264
- Tong Q, Liang J. Structure and leaching characteristics of basaltic glass-ceramics for immobilizing simulated actinides La, Ce and Nd. . 2026. PMID 42748110 · DOI · PMC13580961
- Li J, Wang X, Zhao G, Chen C, Chai Z, Alsaedi A, et al.. Metal-organic framework-based materials: superior adsorbents for the capture of toxic and radioactive metal ions. Chem Soc Rev. 2018. PMID 29498381 · DOI
- Banerjee D, Kim D, Schweiger MJ, Kruger AA, Thallapally PK. Removal of TcO4(-) ions from solution: materials and future outlook. Chem Soc Rev. 2016. PMID 26947251 · DOI
- Hou X, Roos P. Critical comparison of radiometric and mass spectrometric methods for the determination of radionuclides in environmental, biological and nuclear waste samples. Anal Chim Acta. 2008. PMID 18215644 · DOI
- Doll R, Evans HJ, Darby SC. Paternal exposure not to blame. Nature. 1994. PMID 8107860 · DOI
- Pollmann K, Raff J, Merroun M, Fahmy K, Selenska-Pobell S. Metal binding by bacteria from uranium mining waste piles and its technological applications. Biotechnol Adv. 2006. PMID 16005595 · DOI
- Macaskie LE. The application of biotechnology to the treatment of wastes produced from the nuclear fuel cycle: biodegradation and bioaccumulation as a means of treating radionuclide-containing streams. Crit Rev Biotechnol. 1991. PMID 1863981 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.