Radioactive contamination is a significant increase in the radioactivity of objects, living organisms, buildings and large areas above the natural level of radioactivity.

Radioactive contamination may occur due to (frequency):

improper storage of radioactive materials,
radioactive leakage from nuclear installations (usually reactor coolant),
emissions of radioactive gases as a result of overheating (or explosion) of a chimney at a nuclear power plant,
as a result of falling radioactive substances from a nuclear explosion cloud after a nuclear bomb explosion and as a result of their formation under the action of neutrons (so-called excited radioactivity).
The duration of radioactive contamination varies from several hours to several weeks and even months and years - this time depends on the durability (half-life) of the radioactive elements contained in the fallout and on the type of radiation they emit. Pollution that occurs when radioactive substances (dust) have fallen from the original source (for example, a cloud of a nuclear explosion) is called primary. However, pollution resulting from being in a contaminated area or from contact with contaminated objects is called secondary pollution. The variability of the wind makes it difficult to predict the places of pollution and its intensity.

Contaminated food is unsuitable for consumption, since in this way dangerous substances can bind in the cells of the body, which leads to a much greater and longer exposure to ionizing radiation than with surface radiation. It is also impossible to clean (purify) contaminated food or water at home. In a polluted area, as a rule, there are no means of livelihood. All grains and agricultural crops die or when the absorbed radioactive substances themselves become a source of radiation. People, farm animals and sealed food (e.g. cans) from less polluted areas are decontaminated and transported outside the contaminated area.

Radioactive contamination is often mistaken for irradiation (exposure to ionizing radiation). Irradiation can cause secondary contamination only as a result of activation of the irradiated material. In addition, the activated material is usually a much weaker radiation source than the initial radiation flux. Получить бездепозитные бонусы казино в 2023 году легко - необходимо лишь выбрать нужное казино и зарегистрироваться.