GCSE SCIENCE PHYSICS HIGH SCHOOL - Radioactivity - Damage to Living Cells - Safety Precautions - School - Industry

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Damage to Living Cells - Safety Precautions.

People who use or work with radioactivity
must always take the necessary safety precautions.

Radioactive sources which are used in school are usually very weak.
They can only be used in the presence of an authorized teacher.
They are kept in a sealed container except when they are being used
in an experiment or demonstration.
They are immediately returned to the container
when the experiment or demonstration is finished.

When using the radioactive source it should be
1. Handled with tongs or forceps, never with bare hands.
2. Kept at arms length, pointing away from the body.
3. Always kept as far as possible from the eyes.

Hands must be washed after the experiment and definitely before eating.

Radioactive sources which are used in industry may be very strong
and additional precautions must be followed.
Fully sealed protective suits can be used
which prevent any direct contact with radioactive materials.
The suit can be lead lined to prevent penetration by a-particles and b-particles.
Robots which are operated by remote control
can be used to deal with very contaminated areas
or high intensity g-emitters.

People who work with weak radioactive sources wear a film badge.

Headings Radioactivity Search Questions

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