Irradiation

Description

Exposure to alpha, -beta-, gamma-, or high energy electron radiation. Irradiation is used as a treatment to sterilize materials. It is also used to initiate polymerization in some plastics. Irradiation, depending on the type and intensity can cause physical and chemical changes in organic materials such as plastics, paper, dyes, and textiles (SCMRE 2001). Irradiation will kill any biological recipient.

Additional Information

A. NÆGadi, November 5, 2001: "The effects on research specimens and museum collection items from electron beam irradiation of mail by the US Postal Service" http://www.si.edu/scmre/mail_irradiation.html

Authority

• Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997

• The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998

• Theodore J. Reinhart, 'Glossary of Terms', Engineered Plastics, ASM International, 1988

• External source or communication Comment: CoOL DISTLIST 26Dec2001