Discrete radioactive particles are described as what?

• A. A cloud of radioactive material in air
• B. Contamination that is fixed to surfaces
• C. Contamination exists as individual particles
• D. Contamination cannot be measured by dpm or cpm

Answer: (C)

Discrete contamination means the radioactive material exists as separate, countable particles. Each particle is a small, individual speck of contamination, rather than a continuous haze or a film spread over a surface. That’s why this form is described as existing as individual particles. The other descriptions refer to different forms—an airborne cloud is a spread of material in the air, and fixed contamination is material tied to surfaces. Activity from discrete particles can be measured with detectors that report counts per minute or disintegrations per minute, reflecting the presence of those individual specks.