What term describes the measure of the quantity of radioactivity emitted by a radioisotope used to determine the amount of radioactive material that may be transported in packaging?

• A. Activity
• B. Contamination
• C. Containment System
• D. Confinement System

Answer: (A)

Activity is the measure of the rate at which a radioisotope emits radiation. It indicates how much radioactivity is present and is the quantity regulators use to determine how much radioactive material may be transported in packaging. The higher the activity, the more stringent the packaging, shielding, and handling requirements become, since limits are set in terms of activity (for example, a package’s allowed activity or transport index). Contamination refers to radioactive material on surfaces or in places where it shouldn’t be, while containment or confinement describe the packaging’s ability to keep the material from leaking or being released. These relate to safety and containment, not to the amount of radioactivity available for transport.