Safety & Exposure

• Radioactive contamination - getting unwanted radioactive atoms onto or into an object
• Irradiation - the exposure of an object to nuclear radiation, the object doesn't become radioactive
• Precautions to protect against irradiation:

  1. Keep sources in lead-lined boxes
  2. Stand behind barriers or be in different room to source
  3. Hand source with gloves or remote controlled arms
  4. Limit time of exposure
• Contamination:

  • lasts for a long time
  • source of radiation is transferred to an object
  • e.g. radioactive dust settling on skin, so skin becomes contaminated
• Irradiation:

  • lasts for a short time
  • source emits radiation, which reaches object
  • e.g. radioactive dust emitting beta radiation, which irradiates skin
• Scientific reports need to be peer reviewed before publishing