Glossary cont'd - doe-hdbk-1106-97

DOE-HDBK-1106-97

GLOSSARY (continued)

Quality Factor: The principal modifying factor used to calculate the dose equivalent from the

absorbed dose; the absorbed dose (expressed in rad or gray) is multiplied by the appropriate

quality factor (Q).

Rad: A unit of absorbed dose. The word comes from the acronym Radiation Absorbed Dose and

is equivalent to 100 ergs per gram. It does not take into account the biological effect resulting

from the absorbed dose.

Radioactive Material: Radioactive material includes any material, equipment, or system

component determined to be contaminated or suspected of being contaminated. Radioactive

material also includes activated material, sealed and unsealed sources, and material that emits

radiation.

Radioactivity: The process whereby certain nuclides undergo spontaneous disintegration in which

energy is liberated, generally resulting in the formation of new nuclides. The process is

accompanied by the emission of one or more types of radiation, such as alpha particles and

gamma photons.

Radiochemical: A molecule or a chemical compound or substance containing one or more

radioactive atoms.

Radiological Area: Any area within a controlled area that must be posted as a "radiation area,"

"high radiation area," "very high radiation area," "contamination area," "high contamination

area," or "airborne radioactivity area" in accordance with 10 CFR 835.603.

Radiological Buffer Area (RBA): An intermediate area established to prevent the spread of

radioactive contamination and to protect personnel from radiation exposure.

Radiological Work Permit (RWP): Permit that identifies radiological conditions, establishes

worker protection and monitoring requirements, and contains specific approvals for radiological

work activities. The Radiological Work Permit serves as an administrative process for planning

and controlling radiological work and informing the worker of the radiological conditions.