0 a radioactive element used in many nuclear processes (symbol Pu). -- plutonium
At present the second and most likely approach is obtaining plutonium from a nuclear reactor.
They are burnt out and the plutonium and uranium are fully oxidised so that cannot catch fire.
It is said that the safest place for plutonium is inside a fast breeder reactor, where nobody can get at it.
This means that inhaling a few micrograms of plutonium can cause lung or tongue cancer.
Through abstracting the plutonium and the fission products there is less plutonium in waste to return to the environment via the plutonium site.
It has been said that if one uses fusion instead of fission, there is a possibility of not using plutonium.
Plutonium is attributed to an owner based on an estimate of the fissile content of the irradiated fuel originally supplied, usually on an annual basis.
There have, however, to date been two shipments of reprocessed plutonium fuel—plutonium nitrate—by sea between the sites in question.
