Topic 7 - Risks of Nuclear Radiation Flashcards
why are beta and gamma radiation harmful outside the body?
they can penetrate the skin to reach delicate organs
why is alpha radiation not harmful outside the body?
it can’t penetrate the skin
why are beta and gamma radiation not harmful when ingested?
their radiation mostly passes straight out and doesn’t do much damage
why is alpha radiation harmful when ingested?
alpha radiation is highly ionising
what do lower doses of radiation do to cells?
cause minor damage without killing the cell. this can cause mutations which then divide uncontrollably - causing cancer
what do higher doses of radiation do to cells?
kill cells completely. this causes radiation sickness if a large part of the body is affected at the same time.
what is exposure to radiation called?
irradiation
what is contamination?
unwanted radioactive atoms getting into/onto an object
how do you reduce the risk of irradiation?
keep sources in lead-lined boxes, stand behind barriers and being in a different room
how can contamination be harmful?
contaminating atoms might decay - releasing radiation. radioactive particles also might entre your body
how do you reduce the risk of contamination?
using gloves/tongs when handling radioactive sources
wearing protective suits/masks
how do you dispose of low-level radioactive waste?
bury it at a secure landfill site
why is high-level radioactive waste so dangerous?
it stays highly radioactive for tens of thousands of years
how do you dispose of high-level radioactive waste?
seal it in a glass block, then in a metal canister. then bury this deep underground
what does the burial place of high-level radioactive waste have to be?
geologically stable - so no rock movements cause radioactive material to leak out, contaminating the area around it and getting into drinking water
