Which statement best describes radioactive contamination?

Which statement best describes radioactive contamination?

• A. Contamination is radioactive material located where it should not be.
• B. Contamination is radioactive material located in an undesired location.
• C. Contamination means there is no radiation
• D. Contamination only occurs outside the plant

Answer: (B)

Contamination means radioactive material is present where it shouldn’t be, on surfaces, clothing, tools, or skin, in a location you wouldn’t expect to find it. This is important because when material is in an undesired location, it can be transferred or spread, creating a potential exposure risk even if the surrounding area isn’t highly radioactive. The best way to describe this is that radioactive material is located in an undesired location. It isn’t about there being no radiation, and it isn’t limited to outside the plant—contamination can occur wherever the material ends up in the wrong place.

Contamination means radioactive material is present where it shouldn’t be, on surfaces, clothing, tools, or skin, in a location you wouldn’t expect to find it. This is important because when material is in an undesired location, it can be transferred or spread, creating a potential exposure risk even if the surrounding area isn’t highly radioactive. The best way to describe this is that radioactive material is located in an undesired location. It isn’t about there being no radiation, and it isn’t limited to outside the plant—contamination can occur wherever the material ends up in the wrong place.