Irradiation and Contamination

Ionising radiation can increase the risk of cancer in humans

Irradiation → Exposing an object to nuclear radiation e.g, alpha

Precautions

- Alpha Decay → Plastic gloves

- Beta Radiation → Lead apron

- Gamma radiation → Lead aprons

- Shielding → Lead walls, lead-glass screen

- Radiation monitor → Can measure how much radiation has been received

Contamination

Radioactive Contamination → When unwanted radioactive isotopes end up on other materials.

This is hazardous as the radioactive atoms decay and emit ionising radiation.

- Alpha radiation → Strongly ionising but easily stopped by dead cells on the skin surface. Alpha emitters can be dangerous if inhaled or swallowed.

- Beta radiation → Quite ionising and can penetrate skin into the body.

- Gamma radiation → Weak ionising. Can penetrate the body but likely to pass straight through