Reply #17: Waste from medical industry will lead to waste from nuclear power industry?

[joshcryer]

Two fields that have dramatically different standards for disposal? Spent nuclear fuel doesn't leave the confines of the reactor space (in most cases), with high levels of security and big signs that say "trespassers will be shot."

Medical isotopes are in hospitals where hundreds of people are allowed to come and go as they please, without any significant security in place until after dark. Those isotopes can be handled by anyone within the credentials to access those areas, in my case at the VA hospital, the whole place is completely open and even the machines are open access with unlocked doors. (There *are* cameras everywhere, though, so you'd probably get caught if you attempted anything.)