CERN’s experiments involve colliding particles beams together or into a stationary target. When this happens some of the particles release radiation or new particles are created. Radiation only occurs at CERN when the particle beam is on, and turning it off stops the emissions immediately. Collision events are also very rare; at the Large Hadron Collider only 1 nanogram (one millionth of a milligram) of protons are accelerated in a day and only a small proportion of these collide. It would in fact take millions years to collide 1 gram of protons. Radiation is sometimes causing some of the components surrounding the collision points to become radioactive. These components are well confined, their handling rigorously controlled and when the accelerator is dismantled they are handled following the appropriate regulations and standards.

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