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Hazards of Contamination & Irradiation (AQA GCSE Physics)
Revision Note
Hazards of Contamination & Irradiation
- Irradiation is the process of exposing a material to alpha, beta or gamma radiation
- Contamination is where small amounts of the radioactive isotope leak onto the material
- The only way a material can become radioactive is if that material becomes contaminated
- Although irradiation can cause harm, contamination has the potential to cause far more harm, due to the continuous exposure to radiation that it will produce
- Contamination is particularly dangerous if a radioactive source gets into the human body
- The internal organs will be irradiated as the source emits radiation as it moves through the body
Comparison of Irradiation and Contamination Table
Protecting against Irradiation and Contamination
- It is important to reduce the risk of exposure to radiation
- Radiation can mutate DNA in cells and cause cancer
- Shielding is used to absorb radiation
- Lead lined suits are used to reduce irradiation for people working with radioactive materials
- The lead absorbs most of the radiation that would otherwise hit the person
- To prevent contamination an airtight suit is used by people working in an area where there may have been a radiation leak
- This prevents radioactive atoms from getting inside the person
Lead shielding is used when a person is getting an x-ray, as well as for people who work with radiation. Contamination carries much greater risks than irradiation
Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster
- Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is in Ukraine
- In 1986 an incident at the plant caused an explosion
- A large amount of radioactive material was released from the plant and went into the air
- Hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated from the surrounding area to protect them from being contaminated
- An exclusion zone of around 2,600 square kilometres is still in place around the power plant
- This is because the level of radiation in the area is still very high
The Chernobyl Disaster is probably the worst nuclear disaster in history
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