Final answer:
P-32 contaminated gloves C. can be disposed of as normal trash after decay due to their short half-life, in contrast to radium, depleted uranium, and thorium which have much longer half-lives and thus require specialized disposal methods for a longer period.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of radioactive material that may be disposed of as normal trash after decay is P-32 contaminated gloves. This is because P-32 has a relatively short half-life and can decay to negligible levels of radioactivity, allowing for conventional disposal methods. In contrast, compasses that contain radium, depleted uranium, and thorium lenses contain radioisotopes with a much longer half-life, making them unsafe for disposal as normal trash even after decay.
Radioactive waste regulations require careful handling and disposal to ensure it does not come in contact with the outside environment. Materials contaminated with small amounts of radioactive dust or particles, like the P-32 contaminated gloves, are managed in accordance to these regulations. Due to radioactive decay, the level of radioactivity decreases over time until it reaches a level that is considered safe for non-specialized disposal.
Isotopes such as P-32 which are used in nuclear fuel processing facilities and power plants, and have short half-lives, become safe for disposal in a relatively shorter period. This is a result of the natural process where they lose their radioactive characteristics through emission of subatomic particles and electromagnetic energy.