Irradiation vs Contamination

What is irradiation?

When an object is exposed to nuclear radiation.

What is contamination?

When atoms of a radioactive material are on or in an object.

What can ionisation and contamination do and how?

Harm through ionisation.

How can you prevent ionisation?

Shielding, removing or moving away from the source of radiation.

What happens to the object after it’s been exposed to contamination?

Object remains exposed to radiation as long as it’s contaminated.

How can you remove contamination?

Contamination can be very difficult to remove.

How can you protect against irradiation and contamination?

Maintaining a distance from radiation source, limiting time near source and shielding from radiation.