CRMN Targeted Environmental Assessments - Canada.ca
Data
Dictionary
Becquerel (Bq)
The International System (SI) unit of radioactivity,
equivalent to one nuclear transformation per second.
Bq/m
3
Becquerel per cubic metre. The units used to report
radioactivity concentration in air.
Bq/L
Becquerel per litre. The units for radioactivity
concentration in water.
Cesium (
134Cs)
Cesium (
134Cs) is a fission product with a
half-life of 2.06 years.
134Cs decay is accompanied by beta particle
and gamma ray emission.
134Cs can be present in the environment as a
nuclear fission product.
Cesium (
137Cs)
Cesium (
137Cs) is a fission product with a
half-life of 30.17 years.
137Cs decay is accompanied by strong gamma
ray emission.
137Cs can be present in the environment as a nuclear
fission product.
MDC
The smallest concentration of radioactivity that can be
reliably detected in a sample, for a given time of measure.
Uncertainty
The amount the calculated value may vary from the true
value.
Alpha Decay
A type of radioactive decay in which an atomic nucleus emits
an alpha particle (helium nucleus, i.e. two protons, two neutrons), yielding an
atom with a mass number four less and atomic number two less.
Beta Decay
A type of radioactive decay characterized by the emission of
high-energy, high-speed electrons or positrons (e.g. potassium-40 decay).
Error
The amount the calculated value may vary from the true
value.
References
Bowyer, T.W., et al. (2002). Detection and analysis of xenon
isotopes for the comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty international monitoring
system.
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 59: 139–151
United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Cesium.
[Cited 2014-01-08]. Available from:
http://www.epa.gov/radiation/radionuclides/cesium.html