Irradiation and contamination

• Risks to using radiation

  ionising radiation can enter living cells and ionise atoms within them. This can damage the cells or kill them off completely
• exposure to radiation is called irradiation

  • objects near a radio active source are irradiated by it
  • keeping sources in lead - lined boxes and standing behind barriers when using sources are common ways to prevent this
• Contamination is radioactive particles getting onto objects

  • If unwanted radioactive atoms get onto or into an object the object is contaminated
  • the contaminated atoms may then decay, releasing harmful radiation
  • Especialy dangerous because radioactive particles could get into your body
  • Gloves and tongs should be used
• The seriousness of irradiation and contamination depends on the source

  • outside the body, beta and gamma are the most dangerous because they can penetrate the body and get to the delicate organs
  • Inside the body, alpha is the most dangerous because they do all their damage in a very localised area, so contamination not irradiation , is the risk