Uses Of Radiation

By: Marriam Malik & Fatima Chaudhary

X-ray

• A type of radiation that can pass through our skin. When x-rayed, our bones and other structures cast shadows because they are denser than our skin, and those shadows can be detected on photographic film.

Medical Purposes

• When used in this way, they are most often intended to kill cancerous tissue, reduce the size of a tumor, or reduce pain. For example, radioactive iodine (specifically iodine-131) is frequently used to treat thyroid cancer, a disease that strikes about 11,000 Americans every year.

23.7

Radioisotopes in Medicine• 1 out of every 3 hospital patients will undergo a nuclear

medicine procedure

• 24Na, t½ = 14.8 hr, emitter, blood-flow tracer

• 131I, t½ = 14.8 hr, emitter, thyroid gland activity

• 123I, t½ = 13.3 hr, ray emitter, brain imaging

• 18F, t½ = 1.8 hr, emitter, positron emission tomography

• 99mTc, t½ = 6 hr, ray emitter, imaging agent

Brain images with 123I-labeled compound

Scientific Applications

• Archaeologists also use radioactive substances to determine the ages of fossils and other objects through a process called carbon dating.

Industrial Use

• Radiation is used in industries for clothing, cookware and forms of irradiation.

Irridation

• Irridation is the exposure of food or other substances to radiation in order to kill germs for safety purposes.

Chemistry In Action: Food Irradiation

Dosage Effect

Up to 100 kiloradInhibits sprouting of potatoes, onions, garlics. Inactivates trichinae in pork. Kills or prevents insects from reproducing in grains, fruits, and vegetables.

100 – 1000 kilorads Delays spoilage of meat poultry and fish. Reduces salmonella. Extends shelf life of some fruit.

1000 to 10,000 kiloradsSterilizes meat, poultry and fish. Kills insects and microorganisms in spices and seasoning.

Power Plants

• Nuclear Fission is used in power plants to generate electricity.

Diagram of a nuclear power plant

Annual Waste Production

23.5

35,000 tons SO2

4.5 x 106 tons CO2

1,000 MW coal-firedpower plant

3.5 x 106

ft3 ash

1,000 MW nuclearpower plant

70 ft3 vitrified waste

Nuclear Fission

Nuclear Fission & Nuclear Fission & POWERPOWER

• Currently about 103 Currently about 103

nuclear power plants nuclear power plants

in the U.S. and about in the U.S. and about

435 worldwide.435 worldwide.

• 17% of the world’s 17% of the world’s

energy comes from energy comes from

nuclear.nuclear.

In conclusion, Radiation has impacted our nation in many

positive ways, as well as mankind.

Effects of RadiationEffects of Radiation