It takes a few inches of lead or other dense substance to block gamma rays. Gamma rays also can be an internal hazard if we breathe or eat gamma-emitting radioactive materials, or if the radioactive material is introduce through an open wound, but the damage they do to cells inside our bodies is not as severe as that done by alpha and beta particles.
The best way to protect yourself from a gamma-emitter is to increase the distance between yourself and the source. As neutrons travel through matter, they crash with atoms. These atoms can become radioactive. Neutrons are more effective at damaging cells of the body than are other forms of ionizing radiation, such as x-rays or gamma rays.
The best way to protect against neutron radiation is by providing shielding with thick, heavy materials such as lead, concrete, rock, or dirt. Click here for a closer look at half life. Radionuclides used in nuclear medicine procedures, have short half-lives. For example, technetiumm, one of the most common medical isotopes used for imaging studies, has a half-life of 6 hours. The short half-life of technetiumm helps keep the dose to the patient low. Uranium is a radionuclide that has an extremely long half-life.
If you take a soil sample anywhere in the world, including your backyard, you will find uranium atoms that date back to when the Earth was formed. A Closer Look at Half-Life. When uranium decays, it produces several isotopes of: Thorium Radium Radon Bismuth As a result of this natural process, all of these radioactive atoms are part of our natural environment.
To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: Email Address. What's this. Related Pages. Contact Us Calendar Employment. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. Other isotopes are not. Isotopes that are not radioactive are called "stable" isotopes.
During radioactive decay , a radioactive isotope gives off some type of radiation. The isotope is transformed into a different isotope or sometimes into a different element. For example, carbon is a rare isotope of carbon. Carbon is radioactive. When a carbon atom decays, it gives off a beta particle.
The carbon atom is transformed into a nitrogen atom. Radioactive isotopes can be dangerous to living things. They can also cause damage to equipment such as electronics. Radioactive isotopes are not always dangerous, though. Some only give off tiny amounts of radiation. There are radioactive isotopes in nature all around us.
Most of them cause us little or no harm. Humans make use of radioactive materials in many ways. We use them in medicine to treat cancer. We use them to find out how old artifacts are by using carbon dating. The radiation from these isotopes have a short half life and only give off low levels of radiation. They are not only safe to use, but are instrumental in helping to both diagnose and to treat life threatening illnesses.
If you, or a loved one needs any form of nuclear imaging, or treatment using radioactive isotopes, or if you would like to schedule an appointment for any kind of diagnostic imaging, please call today, or go online to make an appointment. ACR accreditation is the gold standard in medical imaging. Independent Imaging is an ACR-accredited facility that also supports a number of initiatives to improve image quality, safety, and patient care.
Search this website. Providers Portal Online Bill Pay. Call Today It can be difficult to ensure that the contamination is fully removed so small amounts of radioisotope may still be left behind. Imaging processes can replace some invasive surgical procedures. Exposure to radioactive materials can potentially damage healthy cells.
Occurs when an object is exposed to a source of radiation outside the object. Occurs if the radioactive source is on or in the object.
A contaminated object will be radioactive for as long as the source is on or in it. Can be blocked with suitable shielding. Once an object is contaminated, the radiation cannot be blocked. Stops as soon as the source is removed.
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