
120 The Fukushima 2011 Disaster
Proton. A positively charged subatomic particle with a mass of 1.67252
x 10
-24
that is slightly less than the mass of a neutron but about 1.836
times greater than the mass of an electron, Protons are identical to
hydrogen nuclei; their charge and mass make them potent ionizers.
Radiation. The emission and propagation of energy through space
or through a material medium in the form of waves. The term also
includes subatomic particles such as alpha, beta and cosmic rays and
electromagnetic radiation.
Radiation absorbed dose (rad). Radiation-induced damage to biological
tissue results from the absorption of energy ...