Identification and activity determination of radionuclides or radionuclide groups and their comparison with the respective authorised limits.

Intact state of barriers in which they fulfil their function.

Geological conditions or technical/geotechnical measures to impede or prevent the release of harmful substances from the waste into the biosphere.

Geological conditions to prevent inadmissible releases of radioactive materials (such as repository formation, adjoining rock or overburden).

The radioactive inventory of a nuclear facility is safely enclosed with the help of the multi-barrier system, i. e. in order to be released, radioactive substances have to pass several different barriers one after the other. The radiological barriers of a nuclear reactor consist of: 1. the retention of the fission products in the nuclear fuel itself, 2. the enclosure of the nuclear fuel in hull pipes, 3. the enclosure of the fuel elements in the reactor pressure vessel, and 4. the gas-tight containment around the reactor pressure vessel.

Technical measures to prevent inadmissible releases of radioactive materials (such as waste product, package, stowage or shaft sealing).

The Becquerel (short form: Bq) is the measuring unit of the "activity" of a radioactive substance and indicates how many nuclear disintegrations per second occur.

Particle radiation in the form of electrons (beta particles). Electron with positive or negative charge which is emitted by an atomic nucleus or elementary particle during beta decay. The penetration capacity of beta particles is some centimetres to metres in air, in soft part tissue or plastic some millimetres to centimetres. Generally beta decay is accompanied by the emission of gamma radiation. cf. alpha radiation, gamma radiation.

Particle radiation consisting of electrons which are emitted by atomic nuclei during radioactive decay. The energy distribution of the beta particles is continuous (beta spectrum) and has a sharp upper limit (so-called end energy).

Radiation exposure through beta radiation of radioactive substances in the atmosphere.

Particles produced through radioactive decay, consisting of electrons or respectively positrons.

The BEMS was founded in 1978 as an organisation of scientists of the fields of biology, physics, medicine and engineering, who are interested in the interactions of electromagnetic fields with biological systems. The BEMS is an international organisation consisting currently of about 626 persons from 38 countries. It publishes the scientific professional journal "Bioelectromagnetics".

Influences on living material (organisms, tissues, cells).

Totality of the part of the earth which is filled with life.

Chemical element with the symbol Bi and the atomic number 83; Bismuth was considered the heaviest stable chemical element until the radioactivity of the isotope ²⁰⁹Bi was discovered in 2003. The naturally occurring Bismuth consists entirely of ²⁰⁹Bi, which has a very long half-life (about 19 quintillion years). Therefore, its specific activity is very low and cannot be detected with normal measuring devices. It decays via alpha decay to the stable Thallium isotope ²⁰⁵Tl. The Bismuth isotopes ²¹⁰Bi, ²¹¹Bi, ²¹²Bi and ²¹⁴Bi are members of the three natural decay chains (so-called radiogenic radionuclides) and therefore always exist in traces in the environment.

The blood-brain barrier is a selectively permeable barrier between blood and cerebral matter. It actively controls the substance exchange between blood and central nervous system. It keeps away damaging substances from the neurons. The blood-brain barrier is formed by the inner cell layer of the small blood vessels in the brain (capillary endothelial cells and the surrounding auxiliary cells, the astrocytes.

Collective term (used in Germany) for equivalent dose and effective dose. The body dose for a reference period (e. g. calendar year, month) is the sum of the dose received by external radiation exposure during this reference period and the committed dose received by internal radiation exposure which is due to an activity intake during this reference period. The unit of the body dose is J/kg with the special name Sievert (Sv).

Treatment of diseases through radiation sources brought into the body or put onto the body, respectively.

Brazil nuts are the seeds of the Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa), which grows in the tropical rainforests of South America. The main export countries are Bolivia, Brazil and Peru.

Brazil nuts, also known as Amazon almonds, are named after the Brazilian state of Pará.

Cancer of the bronchi, lung cancer.

Magnesium containing mineral contained in the magnesium depot, Mg(OH)₂.