I can recognise the difference I can describe the uses and I can analyse the properties of

between contamination and dangers of contamination and radioactive isotopes when being
irradiation. irradiation. selected for use.

Uses and Dangers of Ionising Radiation

Starter • Which strawberries would you
rather eat?

These have been irradiated These were contaminated with These were picked and put
with gamma rays. radioactive rain after a nuclear straight in the box.
disaster.
Keywords: contamination, irradiation, isotope, half life, ionising
1/20/21
 I can recognise the difference I can describe the uses and I can analyse the properties of
between contamination and dangers of contamination and radioactive isotopes when being
irradiation. irradiation. selected for use.

Contamination and Irradiation

Read and
make notes

Keywords: contamination, irradiation, isotope, half life, ionising

1/20/21
I can recognise the difference I can describe the uses and I can analyse the properties of
between contamination and dangers of contamination and radioactive isotopes when being
irradiation. irradiation. selected for use.

Irradiation or Contamination?
Drinking Radioactive
Material

Alexander Litvinenko was

poisoned when he drank tea
containing Polonium-210
Contamination – the source was
inside his body

Keywords: contamination, irradiation, isotope, half life, ionising

I can recognise the difference I can describe the uses and I can analyse the properties of
between contamination and dangers of contamination and radioactive isotopes when being
irradiation. irradiation. selected for use.

Irradiation or Contamination?
Radiotherapy

Gamma rays are fired at tumours

to kill the cancer cells.

Irradiation – source is outside the

body and effects stop as soon as
the source is removed.

Keywords: contamination, irradiation, isotope, half life, ionising

I can recognise the difference I can describe the uses and I can analyse the properties of
between contamination and dangers of contamination and radioactive isotopes when being
irradiation. irradiation. selected for use.

Irradiation or Contamination?
Eating Radioactive material

The Radium Girls worked in

factories and licked brushes
containing radioactive paint.

Contamination – the source was

inside the body

Keywords: contamination, irradiation, isotope, half life, ionising

I can recognise the difference I can describe the uses and I can analyse the properties of
between contamination and dangers of contamination and radioactive isotopes when being
irradiation. irradiation. selected for use.

Irradiation or Contamination?
Sterilising surgical instruments

Gamma rays are fired at surgical

instruments to kill bacteria.

Irradiation – source is outside and effects stop

as soon as source is removed.

Keywords: contamination, irradiation, isotope, half life, ionising

I can recognise the difference I can describe the uses and I can analyse the properties of
between contamination and dangers of contamination and radioactive isotopes when being
irradiation. irradiation. selected for use.

Key
Contamination
Irradiation

Keywords: contamination, irradiation, isotope, half life, ionising

 I can recognise the difference I can describe the uses and I can analyse the properties of
between contamination and dangers of contamination and radioactive isotopes when being
irradiation. irradiation. selected for use.

Uses of Irradiation
Fruit and vegetables are irradiated Surgical equipment is irradiated
with gamma rays. This kills any with gamma rays. This kills any
microbes, reduces the chances of microbes, reducing the chance of
food borne illnesses (e.g. salmonella) passing an infection between
and gives the food a longer shelf life. patients.

Keywords: contamination, irradiation, isotope, half life, ionising

01/20/2021
 I can recognise the difference I can describe the uses and I can analyse the properties of
between contamination and dangers of contamination and radioactive isotopes when being
irradiation. irradiation. selected for use.

Uses of Contamination
Radioactive tracers can be injected
into the body. They travel to a
target organ and emit radiation
out of the body, allowing the
doctor to produce an image of the
organ
This is an iodine-123 thyroid scan. What do
you think the properties are of this
Half life between 2-10 hours. Long enough to do the job
radioactive source? and short enough the activity decreases to safe levels in a
short amount of time. Not an alpha emitter – would not
Keywords: contamination, irradiation, isotope, half life, ionising
01/20/2021 penetrate the skin.
I can recognise the difference I can describe the uses and I can analyse the properties of
between contamination and dangers of contamination and radioactive isotopes when being
irradiation. irradiation. selected for use.

Radiotherapy – Cancer Treatment

Concentrated beams of radiation
are sent from an external source to
the cancerous tumour inside the
body (Irradiation or
contamination?)
OR Disadvantages
A radioactive source is placed Healthy cells as well are killed as well as
inside the body to kill cancer cells cancerous cells are killed during radiotherapy.
Radiotherapy has severe side effects.
(Irradiation or contamination?)
Keywords: contamination, irradiation, isotope, half life, ionising
 I can recognise the difference I can describe the uses and I can analyse the properties of
between contamination and dangers of contamination and radioactive isotopes when being
irradiation. irradiation. selected for use.

Dangers of Irradiation
If a living organism is irradiated When working with alpha and beta sources:
by ionising radiation for a period - Use tongs to handle the source
- Wear protective clothing such as goggles and
of time, it can lead to cell gloves
mutation and cancer. - Work at a distance
- Lead shielding
People in the medical industry
(e.g. radiologists) and nuclear When working with gamma sources
- Reduce exposure time and monitor exposure
power industry are at high risk using a photographic film bade.
over exposure.

Keywords: contamination, irradiation, isotope, half life, ionising

01/20/2021
 I can recognise the difference I can describe the uses and I can analyse the properties of
between contamination and dangers of contamination and radioactive isotopes when being
irradiation. irradiation. selected for use.

Dangers of Contamination
If a living organism is contaminated
by ionising radiation for a period of
time, it can lead to cell mutation and
cancer.
It can be very difficult to remove
ionising radiation from the body. You
just have to wait until enough half
lives have passed and activity
decreases.

Keywords: contamination, irradiation, isotope, half life, ionising

01/20/2021
I can recognise the difference I can describe the uses and I can analyse the properties of
between contamination and dangers of contamination and radioactive isotopes when being
irradiation. irradiation. selected for use.

Keywords: contamination, irradiation, isotope, half life, ionising

I can recognise the difference I can describe the uses and I can analyse the properties of
between contamination and dangers of contamination and radioactive isotopes when being
irradiation. irradiation. selected for use.

To be complete on assessment on
VLE.
Task lists> L4 Contamination and
Irradiation

Keywords: contamination, irradiation, isotope, half life, ionising

01/20/2021
I can recognise the difference I can describe the uses and I can analyse the properties of
between contamination and dangers of contamination and radioactive isotopes when being
irradiation. irradiation. selected for use.

To be complete on assessment on
VLE.
Task lists> L4 Contamination and
Irradiation

Keywords: contamination, irradiation, isotope, half life, ionising

01/20/2021
I can recognise the difference I can describe the uses and I can analyse the properties of
between contamination and dangers of contamination and radioactive isotopes when being
irradiation. irradiation. selected for use.

To be complete on assessment on
VLE.
Task lists> L4 Contamination and
Irradiation

Keywords: contamination, irradiation, isotope, half life, ionising

01/20/2021