Contamination & Irradiation Flashcards

All 5 cards in this deck

What is radioactive contamination?

The unwanted presence of materials containing radioactive atoms on other materials.

What is irradiation?

The process of exposing an object to nuclear radiation.

True or false? An object that has been irradiated becomes radioactive.

False. The irradiated object does not become radioactive.

What causes the hazard from radioactive contamination?

The decay of the contaminating atoms; the type of radiation emitted affects the level of hazard.

How does the hazard stop in each case: irradiation and contamination?

Irradiation stops as soon as the source is removed or shielded; contamination continues until the radioactive atoms are removed or have decayed.