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

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