Irradiation and Contamination

Question 1

Ionising radiation

Answer 1

Can enter living cells and ionise atoms within them. This can damage the cells, causing cancer or kill them off completely.

Question 2

Irradiation

Answer 2

Is exposure to radiation.

Question 3

Contamination

Answer 3

Is when unwanted radioactive atoms get onto or into object. These contaminated atoms might then decay, releasing radiation which could cause you harm.

Question 4

Alpha inside a body

Answer 4

Alpha sources are the most dangerous, because they do all their damage in a very localised area. So contamination, rather than irradiation is the major concern when working with alpha sources.

Question 5

Alpha outside the body

Answer 5

Is not very dangerous, since the particles cannot penetrate skin and are absorbed by air.

Question 6

Beta inside the body

Answer 6

Beta sources inside the body are less damaging, as radiation is absorbed over a wider area and some passes out of the body.

Question 7

Gamma inside the body

Answer 7

Are the least dangerous inside the body, as they mostly pass straight out.(the lowest ionising power)

Question 8

How to prevent irradiation

Answer 8

• Keeping sources in lead-lined boxes
• Clothes with lead fiber protects workers
• Standing behind the barriers when using sources can reduce the irradiation.

Question 9

How to prevent contamination

Answer 9

• wearing gloves and tongs, to avoid particles getting stuck onto your skin
• wearing protective masks to prevent breathing the particles in

Question 10

When is contamination mostly dangerous?

Answer 10

When the radioactive particles get inside your body.