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Radioisotopes emit radiation that can harm the human body. A large dose of radiation causes sickness and death within weeks from vomiting, fatigue, hair loss, bleeding gums. Even small doses over time can cause cancer. However, radioisotopes are also useful as tracers to detect leaks in pipes using Geiger counters, in radiotherapy to kill cancer cells, and to sterilize medical equipment and kill bacteria in food to prevent decay.

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32 views1 page

Class Work

Radioisotopes emit radiation that can harm the human body. A large dose of radiation causes sickness and death within weeks from vomiting, fatigue, hair loss, bleeding gums. Even small doses over time can cause cancer. However, radioisotopes are also useful as tracers to detect leaks in pipes using Geiger counters, in radiotherapy to kill cancer cells, and to sterilize medical equipment and kill bacteria in food to prevent decay.

Uploaded by

Dakwan In
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Ato m s A n d e l e m e n t s

Radiation can harm you


If the radiation from radioisotopes gets into your body, it will kill body cells.
A large dose causes radiation sickness. Victims vomit a lot, and feel really
tired. Their hair falls out, their gums bleed, and they die within weeks.
Even small doses of radiation, over a long period, will cause cancer.

Making use of radioisotopes


Radioisotopes are dangerous – but they are also useful. For example:
To check for leaks Engineers can check oil and gas pipes for leaks by  Checking for radiation using a Geiger
counter. The meter gives a reading, and
adding radioisotopes to the oil or gas. If a Geiger counter detects
you may also hear beeps.
radiation outside the pipe, it means there is a leak. Radioisotopes used in
this way are called tracers.
To treat cancer Radioisotopes can cause cancer. But they are also used
in radiotherapy to cure cancer – because the gamma rays in radiation kill
cancer cells more readily than healthy cells. Cobalt-60 is usually used for
this. The beam of gamma rays is aimed carefully at the site of the cancer
in the body.
To kill germs and bacteria Gamma rays kill germs too. So they are
used to sterilise syringes and other disposable medical equipment.
They also kill the bacteria that cause food to decay. So in many countries,
foods like vegetables, fruit, spices, and meat, are treated with a low dose
of radiation. Cobalt-60 and cesium-137 are used for this.

 Radioisotopes are used as fuel in


nuclear power stations, because they
give out so much energy when they
 Another use for radiation: carbon-dating. Our bodies contain some carbon-14, break down. See page 119 for more.
taken in in food. When we die, we take no more in. But the carbon-14 atoms
continue to decay. So scientists can tell the age of ancient remains by measuring
the radioactivity from them. This mummy was found to be around 5300 years old.

Q
1 a What are isotopes? 5 Radioisotopes can be used to check pipes for leaks.
b Name the three isotopes of carbon, and write symbols a Explain how this works.
for them. b How could you tell that a pipe had no leak?
2 Carbon-14 is radioactive. What does that mean? 6 Spices are shipped all over the world, and are often stored
3 What is a radioisotope? Give two examples. for long periods.
4 a Radiation can kill us. Why? a They are usually treated with radiation. Why?
b So why are radioisotopes used to treat cancer? b Name two radioisotopes used for this.

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