Radioactive Contamination

Question 1

What is radioactive contamination?

Answer 1

It is the unwanted presence of materials containing radioactive atoms on other materials. Hazard from contamination is due to decay of the contaminating atoms. The type of radiation emitted affects the level of hazard. Makes object radioactive

Question 2

What is irradiation?

Answer 2

It is the process of exposing an object to nuclear radiation. Irradiated object doesn’t become radioactive.

Question 3

What does ionizing mean?

Answer 3

It can knock off electrons from atoms

Question 4

What can ionizing radiation lead to?

Answer 4

Cell damage or mutation - cancer. Two ways living feels can be exposed to ionizing radiation - contamination and irradiation

Question 5

Risk of alpha decay inside and out of body?

Answer 5

High risk of contamination as can cause significant damage if ingested or inhaled - high ionizing power.

Low risk of irradiation- cannot travel and penetrate skin

Question 6

Hazards of beta decay inside and out of body

Answer 6

Moderate risk of contamination - depending in energy, can damage deeper tissues + organs if ingested

Moderate risk of irradiation - can penetrate skill causing damage to surface tissues

Question 7

Gamma decay hazard

Answer 7

Low risk of contamination as mostly pass through body and escape

High risk of irradiation as it’s highly penetrating and can damage cells throughout the body

Question 8

What should happens to the finding on the effects of radiation?

Answer 8

It should be published and shared with other scientist so that they can be checked and peer reviewed - accurate and reliable