Irradiation

Question 1

What is irradiations?

Answer 1

• Exposing an object to nuclear radiation.

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Question 2

How do we sterilise medical equipment?

Answer 2

1) Place in plastic wrapper to prevent bacteria from entering.
2) Place object near radioactive isotope that emmits gamma radiation inside a lead sheild to protect workers.
3) Withdrawing lead sheild allows gamma rays to irradiate the object. Gamma rays kills any bacteria.
OBJECT DOES NOT BECOME RADIOACTIVE.
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Question 3

Why is ionising radiation dangerous and how can people who work with them stay safe?

Answer 3

• Increase risk of cancer.
• People who work with radioactive isotopes have to take precautions.
• Gloves: protects alpha radiation.
• Beta + Gamma: reduced using a lead apron.
  -Lead Walls + Lead screen: Sheilding.
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Question 4

What does a radiation monitor do?

Answer 4

• Measure how much radiation has been recieved.
• ## Person has recieed too much: Stop them.

Question 5

What is radioactive contamination?

Answer 5

• Unwanted radioactive isotopes end up on other materials.
• ## Hazardous as radioactive isoptopes decay + emit ionising radiation.

Question 6

How do alpha particles contiminate (ionsing)?

Answer 6

• Strongly ionising.
• Easily stopped by dead cells on skins surface.
• Alpha emmiters can be dangerous if inhaled or swallowed.

Question 7

Contamination of Beta Particles:

Answer 7

• Quite ionising.

- Can penetrate skin into body.

Question 8

Contaminiation of Gamma Rays;

Answer 8

• Weakly ionising; Can penetrate body, but likely to pass straight through.

Question 9

What is the importance of peer review?

Answer 9

• Allows findings to be checked.

- Peer review.