Radioactive Contamination

The radioactive contamination is the occurring phenomenon when a radioactive product settles on an object or a being, either is introduced or inhaled by a being. The contamination is distinguished from the irradiation, event during which the object or the being is subjected to a Ionizing ray. The contamination is legally defined as being “the undesirable presence on a significant level for the radioactive substance hygiene on the surface or inside an unspecified medium”.

In the case of an irradiation, it is enough to isolate or move away the object or the being from the radiation source so that the effect of the irradiation ceases. In the case of the contamination, the object or the being is in permanent contact with the radioactive source which produces a continuous and durable irradiation as long as one did not eliminate in one way or another the contamination. One makes the difference between fixed contamination and unstable contamination. In the case of a inhalation or of an ingestion, there is internal-source irradiation, inside the body; Thus located, this contamination becomes much more difficult to eliminate. If the radiation source introduced or inhaled is sufficiently strong, the being contaminated can become itself a radiation source.

The contamination can be propagated in the Food chain: a being becomes contaminated when it introduces an animal or a contaminated plant.

Effect of the contamination on the life

The principal effect of the contamination is that of the irradiation induced by the radioactive product; to see the article Radiation .

It should not either be forgotten that a certain number of radioactive products present, in addition to their radiotoxicity, a chemical toxicity. The latter can constitute the most important risk besides (case of the Actinides, Uranium, Plutonium,…)

Fight against the contamination

In the event of nuclear accident, the first action to avoid the contaminaion is containment. The order of containment is given by the authorities, in France in the form of a siren (Domestic network of alarm " RNA"). Containment consists in being locked up in a room (residence, public place, company, school…) and to stop the openings, and to abstain from any ingestion them (not to drink, not to eat) while waiting for the instructions, data in general by radio.

An action helping to prevent the contamination of a being consists in saturating the organization with a substance close to contaminant radioactive substance, but containing some only stable isotopes. These isotopes occupy all the sites available where they can be fixed, decreasing the risks for the radioactive susbtance to do it. One recommends thus to the populations exposed at the possible risks of exposure to radioactive Iode to absorb at the beginning of the alarm of stable iodine salts.

In the companies or the professions at the risks, the personnel has adapted equipment: disposable clothing, gloves, masks and if need be (in the event of risk of inhalation) insulating breathing apparatuses (ARI), even tight combination known as “NRBC” (nuclear, radiological, bacteriological, chemical). (see also Fallout shelter)

Once the contamination which has occurred, independent measurements are insulation, to avoid disseminating the contamination and to irradiate other beings, and cleaning (shower) to remove the contaminating product deposited outside. It is also necessary to distribute water and healthy food to the populations.

See too

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