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residual radioactivity

From Department of Defense, for About.com

Definition: (DOD) Nuclear radiation that results from radioactive sources and which persists for longer than one minute. Sources of residual radioactivity created by nuclear explosions include fission fragments and radioactive matter created primarily by neutron activation, but also by gamma and other radiation activation. Other possible sources of residual radioactivity include radioactive material created and dispersed by means other than nuclear explosion.

See also contamination; induced radiation; initial radiation.

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