Radiation

Radioactive waste is radioactive material for which no further use is foreseen but still contains, or is contaminated with, radionuclides. Radioactive waste can be in gas, liquid or solid form (IAEA, 2018). It may remain radioactive from a few hours to hundreds of thousands of years.

For legal and regulatory purposes, material for which no further use is foreseen that contains, or is contaminated with, radionuclides at activity concentrations greater than clearance levels as established by the regulatory body (Adapted from IAEA, 2018 and IAEA 2022 a).

A substance or a material emitting, or related to the emission of, ionizing radiation (either in the form of electro-magnetic waves or particle radiation) is radioactive. Depending on the magnitude of exposure, the radioactive substance may affect human health; as such it is subject to regulatory control by national laws and national regulatory authorities. Radioactive material may also be a hazard to animal health, other forms of life and the environment (IAEA, 2018). 

Nuclear agents are derived from neutron radiation (n) which is a neutron emitted by an unstable nucleus, in particular during atomic fission and nuclear fusion. Apart from a component in cosmic rays, neutrons are usually produced artificially. Because they are electrically neutral particles, neutrons can be very penetrating and when they interact with matter or tissue, they cause the emission of beta- and gamma-radiation. Neutron radiation therefore requires heavy shielding to reduce exposure (IAEA, 2004).