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Hazards of Contamination & Irradiation | Physics for Grade 10 PDF Download

Introduction

  • 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
      Hazards of Contamination & Irradiation | Physics for Grade 10

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
      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
      The Chernobyl Disaster is probably the worst nuclear disaster in history
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