Videos and Notes which teach you everything you need to know
Flash Mode: Quick Videos for cramming
Revision Mode: Self Paced Videos with Full Notes
Radioactive Contamination and Irradiation
- The radiation released from RADIOACTIVE DECAY is IONISING which means it can knock off electrons from atoms.
- If the atom is part of a LIVING CELL, it has the potential to cause it harm by damaging it.
- The IONISING RADIATION can lead to CELL DAMAGE or MUTATION, which can result in CANCER.
There are TWO ways that living cells can be exposed to IONISING RADIATION:
1. Contamination
CONTAMINATION occurs when radioactive particles come into DIRECT CONTACT with materials or living tissue.
It makes the object RADIOACTIVE if it isn’t decontaminated.
This can occur by:
- TOUCHING a radioactive isotope and atoms depositing on the skin.
- INHALING a radioactive gas into the lungs.
- INGESTING radioactive atoms.
Once the radioactive atoms have come into contact with the living tissue, they can decay, and the radiation can damage the living cells.
You can reduce exposure due to CONTAMINATION by:
- Using SAFETY GEAR such as gloves and tongs to handle radioactive materials.
- Wearing PROTECTIVE SUITS to avoid inhaling or ingesting radioactive particles.
2. Irradiation
- IRRADIATION occurs when an object or person is EXPOSED to RADIATION, but the object does NOT become radioactive.
- This occurs when the person or object is NEAR a RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPE and the radiation given off reaches them.
You can reduce exposure due to IRRADIATION by:
- Standing behind BARRIERS (shielding) when using radioactive sources.
- Keeping radioactive sources in LEAD-LINED BOXES.
- Using REMOTE-CONTROLLED ARMS in DIFFERENT ROOMS to handle the source.
Risks Inside and Outside the Body
- The HAZARD from contamination and irradiation is influenced by the TYPE of radiation emitted from the decaying atoms.
- Different types of radiation pose different levels of risk based on their IONISING and PENETRATION power.
- It is important that the findings on the effects of radiation on humans are PUBLISHED and PEER REVIEWED by other scientists.
- This ensures that scientific research is ACCURATE and RELIABLE before it is widely accepted.
Radioactive Contamination and Irradiation
- The radiation released from RADIOACTIVE DECAY is IONISING which means it can knock off electrons from atoms.
- If the atom is part of a LIVING CELL, it has the potential to cause it harm by damaging it.
- The IONISING RADIATION can lead to CELL DAMAGE or MUTATION, which can result in CANCER.
There are TWO ways that living cells can be exposed to IONISING RADIATION:
1. Contamination
CONTAMINATION occurs when radioactive particles come into DIRECT CONTACT with materials or living tissue.
It makes the object RADIOACTIVE if it isn’t decontaminated.
This can occur by:
- TOUCHING a radioactive isotope and atoms depositing on the skin.
- INHALING a radioactive gas into the lungs.
- INGESTING radioactive atoms.
Once the radioactive atoms have come into contact with the living tissue, they can decay, and the radiation can damage the living cells.
You can reduce exposure due to CONTAMINATION by:
- Using SAFETY GEAR such as gloves and tongs to handle radioactive materials.
- Wearing PROTECTIVE SUITS to avoid inhaling or ingesting radioactive particles.
2. Irradiation
- IRRADIATION occurs when an object or person is EXPOSED to RADIATION, but the object does NOT become radioactive.
- This occurs when the person or object is NEAR a RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPE and the radiation given off reaches them.
You can reduce exposure due to IRRADIATION by:
- Standing behind BARRIERS (shielding) when using radioactive sources.
- Keeping radioactive sources in LEAD-LINED BOXES.
- Using REMOTE-CONTROLLED ARMS in DIFFERENT ROOMS to handle the source.
Risks Inside and Outside the Body
- The HAZARD from contamination and irradiation is influenced by the TYPE of radiation emitted from the decaying atoms.
- Different types of radiation pose different levels of risk based on their IONISING and PENETRATION power.
- It is important that the findings on the effects of radiation on humans are PUBLISHED and PEER REVIEWED by other scientists.
- This ensures that scientific research is ACCURATE and RELIABLE before it is widely accepted.
