Which statement best describes the difference between contamination and radiation?

• A. Contamination refers to radioactive material in unintended places, while radiation is the energy released by that material.
• B. Contamination is energy; radiation is material.
• C. Contamination and radiation are the same.
• D. Contamination is the shielding around radiation.

Answer: (A)

Contamination means radioactive material is present where it shouldn’t be—on surfaces, clothing, skin, or in the environment. Radiation is the energy that material releases (or that comes from a source) and can reach you even if the material itself isn’t transferred. You can have contamination without immediate exposure if the material is contained, and you can have radiation without contamination if energy comes from a distant source. The statement that best describes the difference says contamination is the radioactive material in unintended places, while radiation is the energy released by that material. The other options mislabel contamination as energy, claim they’re the same, or describe shielding as contamination.