Fallout
Fallout (medical term)
Fallout (/ˈfɔːlaʊt/), in the context of medicine, refers to the residual radioactive material propelled into the upper atmosphere following a nuclear blast or a nuclear reactor accident, which falls back to Earth's surface. The term is derived from the phrase "fall out" and was coined in reference to the aftermath of nuclear disasters.
Etymology
The term "fallout" is an English compound word combining "fall" and "out", which directly refers to the process of radioactive particles falling out of the atmosphere after a nuclear explosion. It was first used in this context in the early 1950s, during the dawn of the nuclear age.
Related Terms
- Radiation: The emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles, especially high-energy particles that cause ionization.
- Nuclear Blast: A powerful explosion that occurs when nuclear reactions release a large amount of energy in a very short time.
- Nuclear Reactor Accident: An incident characterized by severe conditions leading to damage to a nuclear reactor core, resulting in potential release of radiation.
- Radioactive Material: Material that emits radiation energy in the form of alpha, beta, or gamma particles or rays.
- Ionization: The process by which an atom or a molecule acquires a negative or positive charge by gaining or losing electrons, often in conjunction with other chemical changes.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Fallout
- Wikipedia's article - Fallout
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