Negatively evaluated result of an event or an action.

Process, circumstance or state of which with sufficient probability a damage can result to man, the environment or other assets to be protected.

The nuclide generating during radioactive decay. It can be radioactive itself; it will then have its own characteristic radiation and half-life.

Heat in a nuclear reactor produced after the reactor has been shut down, due to the decay of radioactive fission products. In the first seconds following a shut-down, the decay heat is still about 5 per cent of the output before shut-down.

All of the radionuclides that emerge from a parent nuclide by successive radioactive transformations.

All measures following the final shut-down of a nuclear or mining facility with the objective of the facility's safe enclosure or dismantling

Removal or reduction of radioactive contamination.

De-Mail is used for verifiable and confidential electronic communication. For example, users of De-Mail accounts can be reliably identified and messages can be sent exclusively via encrypted channels. Thanks to legally regulated sending options, De-Mail can also be used to conduct legally relevant correspondence that requires proof of delivery within a stipulated period.

Those who wish to send the BfS a De-Mail need a De-Mail address of their own. This is available from state-approved De-Mail providers.

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• Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik: Informationen zu De-Mail

Retrieval of a signal-carrying information from a combination of carrier and signal frequencies generated through modulation (here: the mobile telecommunication signal).

Demography (Greek demos = people, graphein = write) is a science investigating the state and the development of the population on a statistical level. Demographic features are (objective) characteristics of persons of a social and economic kind, such as e. g. gender, age, profession, income, education, household size, social affiliation, religious affiliation, place of residence, size of the place of residence.

Densely-ionising or loosely-ionising radiation, respectively, differ from each other in the spatial distance of the ionisation processes. These are in the case of densely-ionising radiation (alpha radiation, neutrons) considerably narrower than in the case of loosely-ionising radiation (gamma radiation, X-radiation, beta radiation). A different biological effectiveness is associated with this different ionisation density.

Extensive ablation of the earth’s surface, e.g. by water or wind.

Enrichment areas of mineral raw materials in the earth’s crust.

In mining, the depth refers to the distance below the ground's surface.

Implementation of safety-related requirements; if these requirements are complied with, the necessary state-of-the-art of science and technology precaution against damages resulting from the construction and operation of a nuclear facility has been taken (§ 7 para. 2 no. 3 AtG) in order to achieve the protection goals set out in concrete terms in the Atomic Energy Act, in the Radiation Protection Ordinance, and in 50 safety criteria and directives.

Earthquake of the greatest possible intensity for the site that occurred in the past, taking into account the immediate vicinity of the site.

Design-exceeding courses of events are such processes that may develop from system or component failures which can no more be taken into account in the design of the nuclear facility. Within the scope of the fulfilling the regulations set out in § 3 of the Ordinance Concerning Procedures According to Atomic Energy Act (AtVfV), a statement of the provisions to be taken for compliance with § 7 para. 2 no. 3 AtG is required including an elaboration of the measures and tasks to exclude or restrict consequences of design-exceeding courses of events. These measures are described in the emergency manual.

Incident in accordance with § 49 of the Radiation Protection Ordinance.

Damage in tissue caused by ionising radiation is referred to as deterministic radiation damage. The severity of the damage increases with increasing dose. Generally there is a threshold dose value above which damage occurs. Examples for deterministic effects are skin erythema and epilation.

Dewatering refers to the collection of fossil water or condensation in a reservoir made of steel or concrete.

Solidification of loose sediments to solid rocks, e.g. sand to sandstone.

The Radiation Protection Ordinance defines diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) as

1. dose levels in case of application of ionizing radiation to persons or
2. recommended values of activity in case of application of radioactive materials to persons

for typical examinations - with respect to standard phantoms or patient groups - and for individual device categories.

In the case of frequent and/or dose-intensive X-ray examinations, DRLs are used by doctors as upper guidance levels that must not be exceeded continually or without justification.

Unlike in X-ray diagnostics, the DRLs used in diagnostic nuclear medicine are not upper guidance levels, but rather represent optimum values. They therefore indicate the necessary activity for good image quality and are to be applied to standard procedures and patients.

It is up to the medical authorities to verify that patient exposure is in accordance with the DRLs. The DRLs do not constitute limit values for patients and do not apply to single, individual examinations.

Two-way communication between two parties.

Funnel-shaped pipe serving to gradually delay the flow velocity of the exhaust air, in order to prevent it from swirling and thus to prevent flow losses.

X-ray representation of blood vessels by means of injections of contrast agents. A better representation of the blood vessels is achieved by the electronic subtraction of the plain radiograph prior to the contrast radiograph with simultaneous reduction of contrast agent.

Discharge of liquid, aerosol bound and gaseous radioactive substances from facilities and installations via the intended pathways.

Forums of communication oriented towards understanding, where in view of a joint gaining of findings or decision-making, arguments are investigated according to determined rules regarding their claim of importance and without credit to the person and his/her status.

In epidemiological studies, in addition to the investigated exposure, other factors can influence the result. These must be taken into account when evaluating the data.

Deoxyribonucleic acid is a biomolecule occurring in all living organisms. It is the carrier of genetic information.

Systematic compilation of documents.

Dose is a measure for radiation effects. See also absorbed dose, organ dose, effective dose.

Alternativ

• Absorbed dose
• Organ dose
• Effective dose

Product of absorbed dose at a point in ICRU-soft tissue and the quality factor Q, considering the relative biological effectiveness of different types of radiation. The dose equivalent is the measured quantity for biological effects of ionising radiation on man. Its unit is J/kg with the special name Sievert (Sv). 1 µSv = Microsievert is the millionth part of Sievert. 1 mSv = Millisievert is the thousandth part of Sievert.

Quotient of dose and time.

Measuring the absorption of radiation by matter or the human body per kilogramme per unit of time.

In general, this is the functional relationship between the size of dose of a substance and the extent of the response to it. For example, with a linear dose-response relationship the dose and response are always in the same proportion, that is half the dose yields half the response, one tenth of dose yields one tenth of response et cetera. A linear dose-response relationship would mean, for example, that one per cent of radiation dose will cause one per cent of cases. However, it is quite possible that there is a threshold of dose below which body cells are able to repair radiation injuries except for extremely few mistakes. There would be practically no case that could occur below this dose threshold (threshold value).

dosimeter: Personal dosimeter; a measuring device to determine the individual radiation exposure due to ionising radiation or electromagnetic fields.

Quantitative registration of exposure due to electromagnetic fields.

Execution of a test where both the test person and the attending personnel do not know if there is an exposure or not. This is to ensure that influencing by mental factors is excluded.