Gamma Rays
BACKSCATTER
R
Radiation or
Radiological ?
The Art of Radiation
Sunflower image by Jim Hunter MSRP
Lichtenberg Radiation ( Electron Trees )
Here at SRP HQ we often use full organisation names rather than acronyms – but , every time , the name needs double checking …. as SRP and ICRP use ' Radiological ' in their names but IRPA and ICNIRP use ' Radiation '. Why the difference ? Is it just chance or is there some deeper reason that we should scientifically research and submit to JRP (…. which is ' Radiological ' by the way )? We asked a handful of senior members if they could throw any light on this – four past Presidents , three JRP Editors and the SRP Archivist . And all , like every good radiation protection practitioner , have an eye for detail – and enjoy a debate .
Here ' s a summary of what they thought :
“ I recall being lectured by Bo Lindell *, who , being Swedish had a far better grasp of English Grammar than I . He patiently explained that Radiation was a noun but Radiological was an adjective derived from the noun Radiology .”
Electron trees are created by irradiating a suitable insulating material such as acrylic with an intense high energy electron beam . The electrons penetrate the surface of the acrylic and rapidly decelerate , as they collide with molecules inside the plastic , before finally coming to rest . As this happens , they generate branching chains of fractures producing a tree pattern .
Click here to see SRP member Caroline Felgate ' s electron tree – the perfect leaving gift when she left NPL .
Science Photo Library
“ I would always use ' radiological ' in the composite form ' radiological protection ' or when referring to an activity associated with protection , e . g . a radiological safety assessment . I would use ' radiation ' where the context is broader , so I would refer to an ionisation chamber as a ' radiation detector ' and to ' radiation dosimetry ' because radiation doses are measured for purposes other than radiological protection .”
Radiation protection is defined in the IAEA Safety Glossary 2018 , as “ Protection ( against radiation ), Radiation Protection ( also Radiological Protection ).” So , as both are given as equivalent , and both conform to the correct rules of English grammar and usage , it is simply a question of personal choice .”
* past ICRP and UNSCEAR Chair
We chose ‘ Radiation ’ for this magazine – did we do the right thing ?
Send us your suggestions of radiation art . Email us at RPToday @ srp-uk . org
Radiation Protection Today Summer 2021 37