radioactive contamination

• what is contamination?

  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