Applications of Radioisotopes: Explanation, Uses, Examples

An atom that possesses excess nuclear energy due to the presence of neutrons and protons in such a combination that makes it unstable is known as a radioisotope of an element. These radioisotopes release their excess energy in the form of alpha, beta, and gamma rays or radioactive rays, and this property is known as radioactivity. Most of the elements have at least one radioactive isotope. For example, hydrogen has three isotopes; Protium \({\rm{(H – 1)}}\), Deuterium \({\rm{(H – 2)}}\), and Tritium \({\rm{(H – 3)}}\) out of which Tritium is radioactive.

Thousands of such isotopes of elements are known; some are present in nature, while some are produced synthetically by nuclear reactions. There are various applications of the radioisotopes in the field of medicine, like Cobalt-\(60\) is used in the treatment of cancer; Iodine-\(131\) is used in the treatment of the thyroid. In agriculture, radioactive Phosphorus-\(32\) is used to trace the path of the uptake of fertilizers in plants. In biochemistry, they are used to study the metabolic pathways of various reactions in our bodies. Thus we can infer that radioisotopes are very useful in our life.

Radioisotopes and Radioactivity

Radioisotopes are isotopes of elements that are unstable and release excess nuclear energy in the form of radiation. Due to the instability of the nucleus, atoms release energy and matter in the form of rays such as alpha rays, beta rays, and gamma rays. This phenomenon of releasing radioactive rays by radioactive isotopes is known as radioactivity.

What are the Applications of Radioisotopes?

Radioisotopes have played a crucial role in improving our quality of living by contributing to major research and other areas such as medicines, biochemistry, agriculture, eradication of insects and pests, the industrial purpose of detecting leakage, radiography, and many others. Let’s discuss these applications one by one.

Applications of Radioisotopes in Biochemistry

1. Radioisotopes are used to study metabolic reactions: Radioactive tracers are effectively used to study the pathways of complex metabolic reactions because they can be easily detected due to their radioactivity. These radioactive atoms are incorporated into reactant molecules, which can track easily by scientists by following their radioactivity.
2. Phosphorus-\(32\) is used in a large number of laboratories to determine DNA sequences and to identify target DNAs or mRNAs for a particular molecule or drug in genetics.
3. Radioisotopes are also used to study metal-binding proteins and metal transporters in a biochemical reaction.

Applications of Radioisotopes in Agriculture

Radioisotopes are used to produce good quality, high yielding crops in the following manner:

1. Radioactive tracers are used in fertilizers to determine their uptake by plants and study their functions.
2. Radiations coming out from such radioisotopes are used to kill insects in crops that damage them. Hence, we can say that radioisotopes are also used as insecticides.
3. Radioisotopes of carbon and oxygen, i.e., \({\rm{C – 14}}\) and \({\rm{O – 18}}\) was effectively used to study the entire process of photosynthesis. The uptake of carbon dioxide to produce glucose and oxygen gas was studied and was a milestone achievement in the field of agriculture.

Applications of Radioisotopes in the Medical Field

Radioisotopes have proved to be immensely useful in the medical field as they are chemically identical to the original elements. Hence they can participate in the normal physiological functions of the body without any harm. They are used for the diagnosis and treatment of various deadly diseases. Let’s have a detailed discussion on them:

1. Nuclear medicines are booming nowadays to study the abnormality in metabolic pathways with the help of \({\rm{C – 14}}\) in diabetes mellitus, anaemia, gout, etc.
2. Radioactive Iodine-\(131\) is used to determine the abnormality and other activities in the thyroid gland as this radioisotope accumulates in this particular gland, cardiac output, and fat metabolism.
3. In the identification of malignant tumours in the case of cancer, Phosphorus-\(32\) is useful as this radioisotope tends to accumulate phosphates more than normal cells do.
4. Radioisotope Technetium-\(99\,{\rm{m}}\) is a short-lived isomer used in imaging with radiographic scanning devices, is valuable for studying the anatomic structure of vital organs like the skeleton, brain, lungs, liver, kidney, gall-bladder, spleen, bone marrow, salivary and lacrimal glands in case of infections and many other specialized medical studies.
5. Radioisotopes such as Cobalt-\(60\) and Cesium-\(137\) are used in the treatment of cancer. They are selectively administered to malignant tumours, and so the damage caused to adjacent healthy tissues is minimized.

Applications of Radioisotopes in Industry

1. One of the most significant uses of radioisotopes in nuclear power generation due to the release of energy in the nuclear fission of uranium in nuclear power plants.
2. Radioisotopes are used in thickness measurement and control in metal and plastic sheets by the beta scattering technique.
3. Radioisotopes are used to study wear out of piston rings due to friction. This is done by rubbing the two surfaces, out of which one is neutron activated, and the other surface gets auto-radiographed without the use of any lubricant.
4. Gamma radiography is used to study industrial casting and even minor cracks in machine parts. For example, Ir-\(192\) is used in locomotive industries to examine steel plates.
5. A radioactive salt bath is another technique used in testing metal castings in industries. The absence of penetration of radioactive salt indicates the absence of any cracks.
6. Radioisotopes such as Cobalt-\(60\) are also used in the food industry to preserve packaged food by killing microorganisms that spoil foods.

Applications of Radioisotopes in Different Fields

Radioisotopes are used in various other fields such as:

1. Archaeology: Radioactive Carbon-\(14\) dating is a widely used technique by archaeologists to estimate the age of various ancient rocks, monuments, and other fossil materials.
2. Isotope Hydrology: This is a technique to estimate the age and origin of water by Carbon-\(14\) as all-natural water bodies contain dissolved carbon dioxide in the water. This technique is also used in estimating the age of snow and icebergs.
3. Pest Control: Radioisotopes are used in pest control by sterilizing male flies by \(\gamma \) radiations so that they cannot reproduce and multiply in number.
4. Smoke Detectors: One of the radioisotopes, Americium-\(241\), which is an \(\alpha \) ray emitter is used in very small amounts in ionization-type smoke detectors. The emission of \(\alpha \) rays from Am-\(241\) ionizes the air present between two electrode plates in the ionizing chamber which is attached to a battery that supplies a potential that causes movement of these ions, thus generating a small electric current. When smoke enters the chamber, the movement of the ions is obstructed, reducing the conductivity of the air. This causes a sudden drop in the current, triggering an alarm that helps in detecting smoke and avoid fire accidents.

Disadvantages of Radioisotopes

1. In Medical Field: The major drawback of using radioactive isotopes in the medical field is their severe side effects such as skin diseases, lung cancer, nausea, etc., caused to the patients as well as the health workers who operate these devices and carry on such treatments.
2. Genetic Mutations: Radioactive rays enter the human body and cause mutations in the DNA sequence. Harmful and undesirable mutations may cause genetic disorders or even cancer—for example, cystic fibrosis in human beings. Many genetic disorders in plants, animals and human beings are caused due to such mutations.
3. EnvironmentalEffects: Pollution caused by the introduction of radioactive substances into the environment due to testing of nuclear weapons, nuclear explosions, mining of radioactive ores, etc., is known as radioactive pollution. Such pollution is caused due to nuclear accidents in nuclear energy power plants, spillage of radioactive wastes in water bodies, testing of nuclear weapons, use of radioisotopes for medical and laboratory purposes, etc.

Summary

In a nutshell, we can conclude that radioisotopes have slowly proved to be an essential factor in our lives. Due to their immense use in the field of medicines, a separate branch has developed known as the nuclear pharmacy.

Many radioisotopes are used to diagnose and treat various diseases such as cancer, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and many more. They are used as tracers to study the pathway of enzyme reaction mechanisms, ligand binding with membrane receptors, and many other metabolic pathways.

In automobile industries, we can see various uses of radioisotopes to prevent any wear and tear during the manufacturing process. Some of the commonly used radioisotopes are Hydrogen-\(3\) (Tritium), Carbon-\(14\), Chlorine-\(36\), Lead-\(210\), Cobalt-\(60\), Uranium, etc.

Besides their innumerable uses, these radioactive substances are also dangerous to us as the radioactive rays coming from them may cause mutation and cause deadly diseases such as cancer, genetic disorders, etc. Thus proper usage and disposal after use are necessary to avoid any such kind of hazards.

FAQs on Applications of Radioisotopes

Q.1. What are the types and applications of radioisotopes?
Ans: Some of the different types of radioisotopes are Hydrogen-\(3\) (Tritium), Carbon-\(14\), Chlorine-\(36\), Lead-\(210\), Cobalt-\(60\), Uranium, etc. They have immense applications in various fields, such as in the field of medicine like Cobalt-\(60\) is used in the treatment of cancer; Iodine-\(131\) is used in the treatment of thyroid. In agriculture, radioactive Phosphorus-\(32\) is used to trace the path of the uptake of fertilizers in plants. In biochemistry, they are used to study the metabolic pathways of various reactions in our bodies.

Q.2. What are the three uses of radioisotopes?
Ans: The three uses of radioisotopes are as follows:
1. The three uses of radioisotopes are in imaging of brain, bones, liver, and kidney, and blood flow studies. This helps in the diagnosis of various diseases.
2. Radioisotopes are used to locate industrial pipeline leakage and in oil well studies. 
3. Radioactive tracers are used in fertilizers to determine their uptake by plants and study their functions.

Q.3. What are the useful applications of radioactivity?
Ans: The useful applications of radioactivity are: In medicines – Phosphorus-\(32\) is used in a large number of laboratories to determine DNA sequences and to identify target DNAs or mRNAs for a particular molecule or drug in genetics.
In Industries – Radioisotopes are used in thickness measurement and control in metal and plastic sheets by beta scattering technique. In biochemical analysis – Radioisotopes are used to study metabolic reactions: Radioactive tracers are effectively used to study the pathways of complex metabolic reactions because they can be easily detected due to their radioactivity.

Q.4. What are the industrial applications of radioactive isotopes?
Ans: Some of the industrial applications of radioactive isotopes are in nuclear power generation due to the release of energy in nuclear power plants. Radioisotopes are used in thickness measurement and control in metal and plastic sheets by beta scattering technique; they are used to study wear out of piston rings due to friction. Gamma radiography is used to study industrial casting and locating even minor cracks in machine parts.

Q.5. How are radioisotopes used in medicine?
Ans: Radioisotopes have immense uses in the field of medicines and a separate branch has been developed to study the radioisotopes known as the nuclear pharmacy. Many radioisotopes are used to diagnose and treat various diseases such as cancer, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and many more. For example, Cobalt-\(60\) is used in the treatment of cancer; Iodine-\(131\) is used in the treatment of thyroid.

We hope this article on applications of radioisotopes has helped you. If you have any queries, drop a comment below, and we will get back to you at the earliest.