Radiological Contamination - doe-hdbk-1106-97

DOE-HDBK-1106-97

RADIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION

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DISTINGUISH between ionizing radiation and radioactive contamination.

Comparison of Radiation and Radioactive Contamination

Radioactive contamination is radioactive materials where you do not want it.

Recall that radioactive material is material that contains unstable "radioactive" atoms.

Even when this radioactive material is properly contained, it still emits radiation and

may be an external dose hazard, but it will not be a contamination hazard. When

radioactive material is inadvertently released from its container (e.g., a spill), it is

then referred to as radioactive contamination.

Radiation is energy, contamination is a material. Exposure to radiation does NOT

result in contamination.

Types of Contamination

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DEFINE fixed, removable and airborne contamination.

Contamination can be grouped into 3 types:

Fixed.

Removable/transferable.

Airborne.

1. Fixed contamination

Fixed contamination is contamination that cannot be readily removed from

surfaces.

It cannot be removed by casual contact, wiping, brushing, or washing.