Uses and hazards of radioactivity

• 2 main application of radioactivity related to damaging of cells

  1. medical
  2. safety
• there are two ways Y-ray are used in medical application

  1. detection of tumour
  2. gamma knife radiosurgery
• one way B-particles are used in medical application

  1. treatment of thyroid disorder ( it destroys thyroid and cancer cells )
• application of radioactivity using radioactive decay and half life is geology , it uses a-particles
• 2 Application of radioactivity using the penetrating abilities and ionising effect

  1. Smoke detector ( safety)
  2. measuring thickness of material ( industrial)
• smoke detector uses a-particles high ionising ability to detect current flow. ( to be confirmed )
• B-particles and Y-ray are used to measure thickness of materials in industrial applications

  b-particles are suitable for thin material whereas Y-rays are used for thicker material ( penetrating ability)
• Hazards of radioactivity

  1. Damaging healthy cells causing mutation and cancer
  2. absorption in excessive amount causes cancer and stunt child growth
  3. leaked radioactive substance can cause mutation, stunt growth or reproductive defects in organisms
• We can protect ourselves from radioactive materials through 2 ways

  1. Limiting contamination
  2. reducing exposure