Radiation Protection Glossary

A radiation protection glossary for Radiation Protection Supervisors (RPS), Radiation Protection Advisers (RPA) and anyone else interesting in radiation safety terms and definitions. The glossary is a mixture of health physics , phrases related to radiation protection legislation, transport, practical safety, technical terms and similar.

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Closed Source

Published: Oct 12, 2018

With respect to Radiation Protection, a closed source is is a source of Ionising Radiation in the form of Radioactive material which is encapsulated or otherwise contained. The aim is that closed radioactive material can not escape and will not cause a Contamination hazard. Closed sources have many applications including use in irradiators (food and products), medical blood irradiators and density gauges. Whilst the term 'Closed Source' is comparable with 'Sealed Source' , it is defined in a particular way in some of the UK legislation.

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less

– Marie Curie -