Long-lived nuclear waste can be made far less radioactive through nuclear transmutation.

Is it true that Long-lived nuclear waste can be made far less radioactive through nuclear transmutation?

Unclear. Several peer-reviewed studies indicate that transmutation research targets long-lived radionuclides and that scenario studies assess the possibility of significantly reducing the quantity and radiotoxicity of long-lived waste, with one study showing Tc-99 transmuted to stable isotopes. These are partial, largely feasibility-level results rather than a demonstration that long-lived nuclear waste can be made far less radioactive.

Verdict: PARTIAL LEAN · 4 sources for, 0 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Separation of long-lived radionuclides from high active nuclear waste. (n.d.). cir.nii.ac.jp. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1631-0705(02)01370-1

A., K. A., Yu., K. A., & A., R. E. (2022). Physical feasibility of minor actinides transmutation in a two-component nuclear energy system in Russia. zenodo.org. https://doi.org/10.3897/nucet.8.93664

Utilization of fast reactor excess neutrons for burning long lived fission products. (n.d.). cir.nii.ac.jp. https://doi.org/10.1016/0149-1970(95)00054-n

Status of the French Research on Partitioning and Transmutation. (n.d.). cir.nii.ac.jp. https://doi.org/10.1557/proc-985-0985-nn14-01