Contamination: presence of unwanted substances on a surface or in a material.
what is irradiation?
Irradiation: exposure to radiation, which can kill or inactivate microorganisms.
how do you protect yourself from irradiation?
keeping the sample in a lead box
what is ionisation?
the radiation from a radioactive substance can knock electrons out of atoms. the atoms become charged when they lose electrons, this is ionisation.
why is alpha radiation's contamination more important than irradiation?
contamination is more concerning as alpha is unable to pass through even a sheet of paper due to their large mass, let alone human skin. also, if swallowed due to contamination, it would be damaging as it could not get out. a way to prevent this is by wearing gloves when handling samples.
what is contamination?
the presence of radioactive material on surfaces, objects or in the environment that can cause harm to living beings and the environment
