Radiation and Radioactivity

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Radiation Safety Health Physics
Neutron Scattering Summer School 2006
David Brown, NCNR Health Physics
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Training Outline

• - Radiation, Ionization, Radioactivity
• - Radiation Dose
• - Radiation Safety
• - Questions ??

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Electromagnetic Radiation Gammas and X-Rays
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Background Radiation
US Average 360 mrem/yr Denver, CO
700 mrem/yr Brazil (beaches) 5,000
mrem/yr
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Man Made Ionizing Radiation The NCNR Layout
Reactor (generates neutrons)
Neutron Experiment Stations
Neutron
Beam Tubes
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Radiation Exposure
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Types of Exposure
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Radiation Dosimetry
Occupational Dose Limit 5,000 mrem/yr
General Public Dose Limit 100 mrem/yr Average
Dose to US Public 360 mrem/yr
Average Dose to NIST Researcher 50 mrem/yr
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Health Physics Labels/Signs
100,000 mrem/hr (localized dose rate)

• gt5 mrem/hr
• (whole body
• dose rate)

gt100 mrem/hr (whole body dose rate)
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Radiation Detection / Measurement
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Time, Distance, and Shielding
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Distance Inverse Square Law
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Shielding
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Campfire Analogy
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Contamination Control
Always monitor yourself and items you have with
you when leaving a controlled area.
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Ionizing Radiation - Overview
Can not see it, feel it, or smell it - we
must rely on training and equipment to protect
ourselves
Relatively simple to detect and measure -
unlike chemical and biological hazards - we
can quickly assess and take action
Biological effects have been intensely studied
for 50 years
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Questions.?