Reactor-produced Medical Radioisotopes |
Chromium-51 (half-life - 27.7 years): Used to label red blood cells and quantify gastro-intestinal protein loss.
Iodine-131 (half-life - 8.02 days): Used to diagnose and treat various diseases associated with the human thyroid. Iridium-192 (half-life - 73.83 days): Supplied in wire form for use as an internal radiotherapy source for certain cancers, including those of the head and breast. |
Cyclotron-produced Medical Radioisotopes |
Copper-64 (half-life - 12.7 hours): Used to study genetic disease affecting copper metabolism and also has potential therapeutic uses.
Gallium-67 (half-life - 78.25 hours): Used to detect tumours and infections Iodine-123 (half-life - 13.2 hours): Used in imaging to monitor thyroid function and detect adrenal dysfunction. |
Naturally Occurring Radioisotopes Used In Industry And Science
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Carbon-14 (Half-life - 5 715 years): Used to measure the age of organic material that is up to 50 000 years old.
Chlorine-36 (Half-life - 301 000 years): Used to measure sources of chloride and the age of water that is up to 2 million years old Lead-210 (Half-life - 22.6 years): Used to date layers of sand and soil laid down up to 80 years ago. Hydrogen-3 (tritium) (Half-life - 12.32 years): Used to measure the age of ‘young’ groundwater (up to 30 years old). |
Artificially Produced Radioisotopes Used in Industry and Science |
Americium-241 (Half-life - 232.7 years): Used in neutron gauging and smoke detectors.
Cobalt-60 (Half-life - 5.27 years): Used in gamma radiography, gauging, and commercial medical equipment sterilisation. Caesium-137 (Half-life - 30.07 years): Used in radiotracing to identify sources of soil erosion and depositing; also for thickness gauging. Gold-198 (Half-life - 2.7 days): Used to trace factory waste causing ocean pollution, and to trace sand movement in river beds and on ocean floors. |