These terms are listed and defined below. Activation products are radioactive materials that were created when stable substances were bombarded by neutrons. In a reactor facility, neutrons are created inside the reactor vessel during the fission process. Alpha radiation is a positively charged particle ejected spontaneously from the nuclei of some radioactive elements. The most energetic alpha particle will generally fail to penetrate the dead layers of cells covering the skin and can be easily stopped by a sheet of paper.
Alpha particles are hazardous when an alpha-emitting isotope is inside the body.
Background radiation means the radiation that is in the natural environment, including cosmic rays and radiation from the naturally radioactive elements, both outside and inside the bodies of humans and animals. In the case of radiation dose , it is energy absorbed per unit mass. Dose is measured in rads. Greater than Class C waste is radioactive waste that is not generally acceptable for near-surface disposal. It is waste for which form and disposal methods must be different, and in general more stringent, than those specified for Class C waste.