Editing Contamination (section)

===Radioactive contamination===
In environments where nuclear safety and [[radiation protection]] are required, [[radioactive contamination]] is a concern. Radioactive substances can appear on surfaces, or within solids, liquids, or gases (including the human body), where their presence is unintended or undesirable, and processes can give rise to their presence in such places.<ref name="IAEASafety07">{{cite book |url=https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1290_web.pdf |title=IAEA Safety Glossary: Terminology Used in Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection, 2007 Edition |author=International Atomic Energy Agency |pages=227 |year=2007 |publisher=International Atomic Energy Agency |isbn=978-9201007070 |access-date=11 April 2019 |archive-date=18 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200118021212/https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1290_web.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="IAEAProgrammes10">{{cite book |url=https://www.iaea.org/publications/8242/programmes-and-systems-for-source-and-environmental-radiation-monitoring |title=Programmes and Systems for Source and Environmental Radiation Monitoring, Safety Reporsts Series No. 64 |author=International Atomic Energy Agency |pages=234 |year=2010 |publisher=International Atomic Energy Agency |isbn=9789201124098 |access-date=11 April 2019 |archive-date=24 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224211121/https://www.iaea.org/publications/8242/programmes-and-systems-for-source-and-environmental-radiation-monitoring |url-status=live }}</ref> Several examples of radioactive contamination include:

* residual [[radioactive material]] remaining at a site after the completion of [[nuclear decommissioning|decommissioning]] of a site where there was a [[nuclear reactor]], such as a [[power plant]], [[experimental reactor]], [[isotope reactor]], or a [[nuclear marine propulsion|nuclear powered ship]] or [[nuclear submarine|submarine]]<ref name="ChatzisDecomm17">{{cite web |url=https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/decommissioning-and-environmental-remediation-an-overview |title=Decommissioning and Environmental Remediation: IAEA Conference to Start on Monday |author=Chatzis, I. |publisher=International Atomic Energy Agency |date=26 July 2017 |access-date=11 April 2019 |archive-date=21 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521130707/https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/decommissioning-and-environmental-remediation-an-overview |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ingested or absorbed radioactive material that contaminates a biological entity, whether unintentionally or intentionally (such as with [[radiopharmaceuticals]]<ref name="StanfordRadiation17">{{cite web |url=https://ehs.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/sops/Hospital-Guidance-document.pdf |title=Radiation Protection Guidance for Hospital Staff |author=Stanford Environmental Health and Safety |page=21 |date=29 June 2017 |access-date=11 April 2019 |archive-date=5 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305200426/https://ehs.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/sops/Hospital-Guidance-document.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
* escape of elements after nuclear accident, such as the contamination of [[Iodine-131]] and [[Caesium-137]] after the [[Chernobyl disaster|nuclear disaster in Chernobyl]], Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=von Wehrden |first=Henrik |date=28 December 2011 |title=Consequences of nuclear accidents for biodiversity and ecosystem services |url=http://fox.leuphana.de/portal/de/publications/consequences-of-nuclear-accidents-for-biodiversity-and-ecosystem-services(0f971799-c8ce-422e-844c-6e0ec1ae1b0a).html|journal=Conservation Letters |volume=5 |issue=2 |pages=81–89 |doi=10.1111/j.1755-263X.2011.00217.x |s2cid=83193558 |via=Society of Conservation Biology|doi-access=free }}</ref>

Note that the term "radioactive contamination" may have a connotation that is not intended. The term refers only to the presence of [[radioactivity]] and gives no indication itself of the magnitude of the hazard involved. However, [[radioactive decay#Rates|radioactivity]] can be measured as a quantity in a given location or on a surface, or on a unit area of a surface, such as a square meter or centimeter.

Like environmental monitoring, [[radiation monitoring]] can be employed to catch contamination-causing activities before much harm.