Iodine-131 is a naturally found radioisotope and its radioactivity has useful purposes in everyday applications. For example, Iodine 131 can diagnose and treat cancer of the thyroid glands. Iodine 131 may have many positive uses, however, if ingested the affects can seriously harm one’s body. Alpha Decay is when an unstable atom’s nucleus releases two protons and two neutrons (commonly referred to as a helium atom), which are called alpha particles (Lab, n.d.) . Since both mass and atomic number changes, the element also changes (Lab, n.d.). Alpha particles cannot go through paper (Lab, n.d.), nevertheless, can cause damage on the internal organs if consumed. Beta radiation is the release of beta particles, which are electrons ejected from a decaying atom (Lab, n.d.). Beta radiation cannot pass through Aluminium (Lab, n.d.). Beta-minus decay occurs when a neutron turns into a proton, electron and an antineutrino(Lab, n.d.). An antineutrino is the “antiparticle” of a neutrino particle, which is an electrically neutral particle (Lab, n.d.). A neutrino has a mass close to zero and reacts very weakly towards normal matter (Lab, n.d.). Gamma radiation is the release of gamma rays (Lab, n.d.). These rays produce electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength than those of an X-ray. They are able to penetrate paper and aluminium but are not able to pass through a certain thickness of lead (Lab, n.d.). A radioisotope is another term for a radioactive isotope.
Half- life is the time it takes for the half the number of radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.The element Iodine has one hundred and forty isotopes (Lab, n.d.). The Isotope with a mass of 127 being the most stable. Since there are so many different isotopes, a comparison of...
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...thin 100 days or so Interesting facts •I-131 breaks down rapidly in the atmosphere •Most exposure occurs through drinking contaminated milk •Little exposure comes from fruits or vegetables because 1-131 is only deposited on the surface. People usually wash or peel their fruits and vegetable •Risk for thyroid cancer increases with exposure to 1- 131. But even those exposed to I-131, only a few develop this cancer. Iodine-131 has many useful applications in everyday life; however, there are some negative aspects involved. I-131 can treat thyroid gland disorders as well as detect them; but, if the radioisotope is released into the air, contaminates food or water sources, major health risks can arise. This radioisotope is essential in curing specific medical aspects, as we do not have another solution to cure certain situations. Nevertheless the negative points remain.
...r. Iodine 131, another radioactive element, can dilute very quickly in the air, but if it is deposited on grass eaten by cows, the cows then re-concentrate it in their milk. Absorbed into the body's thyroid gland in a concentrated dose, Iodine 131 can cause cancer. In the Chernobyl disaster, the biggest health effect has been cases of thyroid cancer especially in children living near the nuclear plant. Therefore, because of the Chernobyl disaster we know to test the grass, soil, and milk for radiation. Also, an evacuation of the Chernobyl area was not ordered until over 24 hours after the incident. Japanese authorities evacuated 200,000 people from the area of Fukushima within hours of the initial alert. From the mistakes and magnitude of the disaster at Chernobyl, the world learned how to better deal with the long and short term effect of a Nuclear Fallout.
Technetium, as with other radioactive material there is the chance of cancer, and other health conditions from exposure to radioactivity.
"Estimated Exposures and Thyroid Doses Received by the American People from Iodine-131 in Fallout Following Nevada Atmospheric Nuclear Bomb Tests National Cancer Institute (NCI). 2002. June 2004.
...atment is safe because radio-iodine is able to deliver a sufficient amount of radiation to the thyroid allowing to slow the hormone production, and only deliver a small amount to the body. The radiation delivered to the body is far from harmful and is only equivalent to the amount of radiation delivered from two routine diagnostic X-Ray procedures such as a gastrointestinal series ("Educational Material"). The form of treatment has been used for 35 years and over one million patients in the United States have been assisted through the treatment of radioactive iodine ablation. Most physicians will rely on this treatment and recommend 90 percent of their over active thyroid patients to receive the radioactive iodine ("Educational Material"). The treatment, till this day, is known to continuously alleviate the majority of symptoms hyperthyroidism patients have today.
where n is the number of half-lives that elapsed, T is the amount of time the radioisotope has decayed and (t)1/2 is the half-life of the nuclei, this is to determine the half-life of the radioisotope.
Radiation has always been in everyday life even before Roentgen discovered x-ray. The mountains give off natural radiation, other forms of radiation are coal burning power plants, x-rays from a TV, and an airplane ride. The average dose from background radiation is about 360 mrem every year. There are two types of radiation, nonionizing and ionizing radiation. Examples of nonionizing radiation are microwaves and radio waves broadcasting. Ionizing radiation refers to gamma and x-rays. Ionizing radiation means that the rays are able to remove an electron from the atom then ions can be formed. The ions can cause damage when reacting with other atoms. Cells are able to be repaired if low dose are received. However, if cells get a high dose, the cells will be damaged or possibly die. If the cell is damaged permanently then it is referred to as a mutated cell.
This is the major contributor to worldwide radiation exposure, Non-medical, man-made radiation used in small amounts in food irradiation, airport security scanners, and some consumer products. Exposure to man-made radiation can happen in certain workplaces, or in communities as a result of above ground nuclear weapons testing and nuclear accidents
could kill animals (source 2). If the radioactive material gets in water it could pollute the water. When
To understand what a radioactive isotope is a basic understanding of the atom is necessary. Atoms are comprised of three subatomic particles : protons, neutrons and electrons. Protons and neutrons bind together to form the nucleus of the atom, while the electrons surround and orbit the nucleus. Protons and electrons have opposite charges and therefore attract one another (electrons are negative and protons are positive, and opposite charges attract), and in most cases the number of electrons and protons are the same for an atom (making the atom neutral in charge). The neutrons are neutral. Their purpose in the nucleus is to bind protons together. Because the protons all have the same charge and would naturally repel one another, the neutrons act as "glue" to hold the protons tightly together in the nucleus.
Tritium is a hazardous substance that should only be used by professionals or with professional supervision. However, Tritium undergoes beta decay, which is not as powerful and disables the beta particles from penetrating the skin. It is still not correct to perform experiments without being fully protected. There are still many health risks that are associated with Tritium. Exhaling, drinking and eating substance containing tritium is highly risky for your body. Once tritium has been injected or ingested into the human body, the half-life of the tritium is minimized to 7-14 days which also minimizes the power of the tritium, but still dangerous. A research which took place in Karnataka, India, shows that the half-life is partially based on
A radioisotope is an isotope that emits radiation as it has nuclear instability(Prostate Cancer; Fusion imaging helps target greater doses of radiation).Those who are not too familiar with radioisotopes may think their use is for harmful radiation, nuclear weapons, and the possibility of turning into a giant, raging, green monster. However, there are much more positive uses for radioisotopes. There have been many medical advances thanks to the benefit and practice of radioisotopes in nuclear medicine. These advances have been able to diagnose and treat a variety of diseases.
Radioactive materials are existing in its crust, the floors and walls of our homes, schools, or offices and in the food we eat and drink. Radioactive gases are in the air that we breathe. Our own bodies contain radioactivity such as muscles, bones, and tissue. Humans has always been exposed to natural radiation emerging from the earth as well as from outside the earth. The radiation we collect from outer space is called cosmic rays. We also receive exposure from man-made radiation, such as X-rays, radiation used to diagnose diseases and for cancer therapy. There are numerous types of radiation, each having different traits. The common ionizing radiations predominantly talked about are alpha radiation, beta radiation, gamma rays. Alpha radiation consists of heavy, positively charged particles emitted by atoms of elements such as uranium and radium. Beta radiation consists of electrons. Gamma rays are electromagnetic radiation that are similar to X-rays, light, and radio waves. Although we cannot see or feel
Beta radiation/emission – Beta particles are electrons (0-1e) that have been released from the nucleus of a radioactive atom when a neutron decays into a proton and electron. Beta decay/emission happens when the neutron to proton ratio is too high due to excess neutrons. 10n 11p + 0-1e (mass is still conserved as well as number of protons.)
The impact of nuclear power on the modern world has improved Various sectors of the economy and society .i.e. Food and Agriculture, Insect control, Food Preservation, Water Resources, Military, Medicine, Research and Industry. “In 1911 George de Hevesy conducted the first application of a radioisotope. At the time de Hevesy was a young Hungarian student working in Manchester with naturally radioactive materials. Not having much money he lived in modest accommodation and took his meals with his landlady. He began to suspect that some of the meals that appeared regularly might be made from leftovers from the preceding days or even weeks, but he could never be sure. To try and confirm his suspicions de Hevesy put a small amount of radioactive material into the remains of a meal. Several days later when the same dish was served again he used a simple radiation detection instrument - a gold leaf electroscope - to check if the food was radioactive. It was, and de Hevesy's suspicions were confirmed.
What is radioactivity? Radioactive isotopes are heavy nuclei of certain elements having extra neutrons. The extra neutrons in their nuclei cause them to be unstable so the nuclei break up spontaneously, emitting alpha, beta and gamma radiations. For example,