"spent" nuclear fuel rods come out of a reactor and need to be handled carefully. why must power plants spend so much money and be so cautious in dealing with these materials? a) spent nuclear fuel is very fragile and can shatter easily and damage equipment. eliminate b) spent nuclear fuel is highly unstable, and likely to explode without precautions. c) spent nuclear fuel is highly radioactive and can damage organisms and the environment. d) spent nuclear fuel is very expensive, and some people desire to take some and profit from it.