Can You Swim in a Spent Nuclear Fuel Pool?

💦Swimming in a spent nuclear fuel pool is theoretically safe as long as you swim away from the fuel rods, avoiding direct contact.

🌡️The water temperature in a spent fuel pool is typically between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius, making it warmer than most pools but cooler than a hot tub.

🌊Being underwater in a spent fuel pool would provide additional shielding from normal background radiation sources, resulting in a potentially lower dose of radiation.

💀Direct contact with recently removed fuel rods or touching fresh fuel canisters at the bottom of the pool could result in a fatal dose of radiation.

🏊‍♀️Human divers routinely service spent fuel pools, indicating that they can be safe to swim in as long as precautions are taken.

Is it safe to swim in a spent nuclear fuel pool?

—Swimming in a spent nuclear fuel pool can be safe as long as caution is exercised. Avoid diving to the bottom, picking up anything strange, or drinking the water.

What is the water temperature in a spent fuel pool?

—The water temperature in a spent fuel pool is typically between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius.

Does being underwater provide extra protection from radiation in a spent fuel pool?

—Yes, being underwater in a spent fuel pool would provide additional shielding from normal background radiation sources, resulting in a potentially lower dose of radiation.

Are there any risks associated with swimming in a spent fuel pool?

—Direct contact with recently removed fuel rods or touching fresh fuel canisters at the bottom of the pool could result in a fatal dose of radiation. Caution should be exercised.

Why do human divers service spent fuel pools?

—Human divers routinely service spent fuel pools, indicating that they can be safe to swim in as long as precautions are taken.

00:03Jonathan asks if swimming in a typical spent nuclear fuel pool would be fatal due to radiation exposure.

00:16Assuming you're a good swimmer, you could tread water for 10 to 40 hours before blacking out and drowning.

00:30Fuel from nuclear reactors is stored at the bottom of pools for a couple of decades until it's safe to be moved.

01:07Every 7 cm of water cuts the amount of radiation in half in a spent fuel pool.

01:23The most highly radioactive fuel rods are those recently removed from a reactor.

01:55Being underwater in a spent fuel pool provides additional shielding from normal background radiation.

02:05Corrosion in the spent fuel rod casings could result in fission products in the water.

02:23A diver's close proximity to highly radioactive tubing at the bottom of a fuel pool resulted in a high radiation dose.