What Are the Major Uses of Radioisotopes?

A radioisotope—also known as a radioactive isotope—is one of the numerous species of the same chemical element. Radioisotopes have distinct masses that generate radiation via alpha, beta, and gamma rays to disperse extra energy.

The diverse variations and levels of radioactivity are employable in many situations, but what are the major uses of radioisotopes? Let’s examine closer their primary applications.

Therapy

Radioisotopes are used in therapy in a limited number of cases but are nonetheless crucial. Radiation can deteriorate cancer development. As a result, some malignant tumors are manageable or removable by irradiating the area where the tumor resides. This is known as radiosurgery.

A gamma beam from a radioactive cobalt-60 source can be used for external irradiation, often known as teletherapy. In developed nations, high-energy X-ray sources offer convenience as adaptable linear accelerators.

Diagnostics

Diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals are valuable for checking brain blood circulation, lungs, liver, heart, and kidney function. This application is also practical for monitoring bone growth and corroborating other diagnostic techniques.

The radiopharmaceutical dose administered to a patient provides just enough radioactivity to gather the information needed before it decays. Medically, the radiation dose absorbed is negligible, so it’s safe to administer.

Sterilization

These days, the medical industry uses gamma rays from a radioisotope source to disinfect many medical devices. This is far less expensive and more beneficial than some traditional means of sterilization.

Radiation can powerfully decontaminate an array of heat-sensitive products such as ointments, powders, and liquids. This application of radioactivity is also useful in biological preparations—such as bone, nerve, and skin for tissue grafts—because it is a cold procedure.

Agriculture

What are the major uses of radioisotopes other than medical functions? The practicality of radioactive isotopes extends to agriculture research. Radioactivity allows for the development of high-yielding crop types, oilseeds, and other essential plants.

Scientists and agriculturalists are performing significant genetic modifications on wheat, maize, cotton, and other radiated seeds. They hope to improve crop variety, mutant breeding, and food preservation.

Industry

In the industrial sector, people often use radioisotopes to inspect obstructed water pipes and locate leaks in oil pipes. Specialists measure the radioactivity over the pipeline with a radiation detector. If there is a leaking point, the device will pinpoint that specific area.

In a wide range of industries, radioactive elements can analyze metal components and the quality of welds. Using this method, workers can examine internal flaws without causing serious damage to essential units. All things considered, a variety of radioactivity applications are vital for present-day industries and those still to come.