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i This includes effects occurring after birth that are attributable to exposure in
utero.
i Deterministic effects are normally also somatic effects; stochastic effects may
be somatic effects or hereditary effects.
i Contrasting term: hereditary effect.
source
1. Anything that may cause radiation exposure — such as by emitting
ionizing radiation or by releasing radioactive substances or radioactive material
— and can be treated as a single entity for purposes of protection and safety.
i For example, materials emitting radon are sources in the environment; a
sterilization gamma irradiation unit is a source for the practice of irradiation
preservation of food and sterilization of other products; an X ray unit may be
a source for the practice of radiodiagnosis; a nuclear power plant is part of the
practice of generating electricity by nuclear fission, and may be regarded as a
source (e.g. with respect to discharges to the environment) or as a collection
of sources (e.g. for occupational radiation protection purposes). A complex
or multiple installation situated at one location or site may, as appropriate,
be considered a single source for the purposes of application of the safety
standards.
natural source. A naturally occurring source of radiation, such as the
sun and stars (sources of cosmic radiation) and rocks and soil (terrestrial
sources of radiation), or any other material whose radioactivity is for all
intents and purposes due only to radionuclides of natural origin, such
as products or residues from the processing of minerals; but excluding
radioactive material for use in a nuclear installation and radioactive waste
generated in a nuclear installation.
radiation generator. A device capable of generating ionizing radiation,
such as X rays, neutrons, electrons or other charged particles, that may be
used for scientific, industrial or medical purposes.
2. Radioactive material used as a source of radiation.
i Such as those sources used for medical applications or in industrial
instruments. These are, of course, sources as defined in (1), but this usage in
(2) is less general.
dangerous source. A source that could, if not under control, give rise to
exposure sufficient to cause severe deterministic effects. This categorization
