Radioactive contamination

The contamination of any material, surface, environment or person by radioactive substances such as alpha particles or gamma rays. Radioisotopes used in industry (e.g. medicine, food, pasteurisation) are generally of low power with a short life. The risk is insurable if the UK’s Atomic Energy Authority standards for the use of radioisotopes are strictly observed. Product and public liability policies exclude loss or damage from ionising radiations or contamination from any nuclear fuel or waste from the combustion of nuclear fuel. See NUCLEAR PERILS.

Radioactive Contamination Insurance

Coverage which may be added for a Property policy to cover certain risks where there is neither a nuclear reactor nor nuclear fuel on the premises but which might occasionally be exposed to contamination damage from other material on the insured’s premises. Liability losses caused by nuclear reaction and radioactive contamination are excluded from most insurance contracts and are usually covered under policies issued by pools created for this purpose.

Radiology

Branch of medicine that deals with radioactive substances and is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of disease and injury by visualizing any of the various sources of radiant energy.

Radiology services

Three branches of radiology services include diagnostic radiology, which is imaging using external sources of radiation or no radiation; nuclear medicine, which is imaging radioactive materials that are placed in body organs; and therapeutic radiology, which is the treatment of cancer using radiation.