a) Identify a radioisotope that is used in medicine or industry and briefly outline its use Cobalt-60 is used in industrial radiography to inspect metal parts and welds for defects, in gamma sterilisation of equipment and in gauging. In the area of medicine, Cobalt-60 is used in cancer radiotherapy. b) Describe how the radioisotope is made. Radioactive cobalt-60 is produced in a process called activation, when materials in reactors, such as steel, are exposed to …
showed first 75 words of 660 total

showed last 75 words of 660 total
…cost due to the extensive time spent in the reactor. In the irradiation of food the treatment of the food is relatively slow. The use of radioactive cobalt-60 in food destroys thiamine and could also cause mutations in fruits and vegetables. Also occasionally medical and industrial sources have been lost or stolen posing a significant health risk to those who handle them. Exposures to gamma radiation from cobalt-60 result in an increased risk of cancer.