Radioactive contamination

Pollution

v • d • e

Air pollution

Particulate • Smog

Water pollution

Water stagnation

Soil contamination

Soil Guideline Values (SGVs)

Radioactive contamination

Actinides in the environment • Radiation poisoning • Radium in the environment • Uranium in the environment

Other types of pollution

Invasive species • Light pollution • Noise pollution • Radio spectrum pollution • Visual pollution

Inter-government treaties

Montreal Protocol • Nitrogen Oxide Protocol • Kyoto Protocol • CLRTAP

Major organizations

DEFRA • EPA • Global Atmosphere Watch • Greenpeace • National Ambient Air Quality Standards

Related topics

Environmental Science • Natural environment

Radioactive contamination is the uncontrolled distribution of radioactive material in a given environment. The amount of radioactive material released in an accident is called the source term.

Sources of contamination

Radioactive contamination is typically the result of a spill or accident during the production or use of alpha emitters please see actinides in the environment.

Containment is what differentiates radioactive material from radioactive contamination. Therefore, radioactive material in sealed and designated containers is not properly referred to as contamination, although the units of measurement might be the same.

Measurement

Radioactive contamination may exist on surfaces or in volumes of material or air. In a nuclear power plant, detection and measurement of radioactivity and contamination is often the job of a Certified Health Physicist.

Surface contamination

Surface contamination is usually expressed in units of radioactivity per unit of area. For disintegrations per minute per square centimeter (1 dpm/cm² = 166 2/3 Bq/m²) may be used. Surface contamination may either be fixed or removable. In the case of fixed contamination, the radioactive material cannot by definition be spread, but it is still measurable.

Hazards

In practice there is no such thing as zero radioactivity. Not only is the entire world constantly bombarded by potassium-40. These tiny levels of radiation are not any more harmful than sunlight, but just as excessive quantities of sunlight can be dangerous, so too can excessive levels of radiation.

Low level contamination

The hazards to people and the environment from radioactive contamination depend on the nature of the radioactive contaminant, the level of contamination, and the extent of the spread of contamination. Low levels of radioactive contamination pose little risk, but can still be detected by radiation instrumentation. In the case of low-level contamination by isotopes with a short half-life, the best course of action may be to simply allow the material to naturally decay. Longer-lived isotopes should be cleaned up and properly disposed off.

High level contamination

High levels of contamination may pose major risks to people and the environment. People can be exposed to potentially lethal radiation levels, both externally and internally, from the spread of contamination following an accident (or a deliberate initiation) involving large quantities of radioactive material. The absorbed dose.

Biological effects

Means of contamination

Radioactive contamination can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, absorption, or injection. For this reason, it is important to use personal protective equipment when working with radioactive materials. Radioactive contamination may also be ingested as the result of eating contaminated plants and animals or drinking contaminated water or milk from exposed animals. Following a major contamination incident, all potential pathways of internal exposure should be considered.