Unexpected Uses of Radioisotopes and Nuclear Technologies

1. Unexpected Uses of Radioisotopes and Nuclear Technologies

2. Smoke Detectors Non-Stick Cookware Textiles Irradiated Foods Cosmetics, hair products, and contacts solution sterilization processes Polymerization of polymers Photocopiers Some types of ice cream Household Consumer Products

3. Smoke Detectors • Alpha radiation ionizes air particles, which conduct electrical current • Smoke attracts the ionized particles and reduces the electrical current • When smoke is present, the lower electrical current causes an alarm to sound

4. “Antique” Household Products (No Longer Manufactured) • Radium Dial Watches • Fiesta Ware • Vaseline Glass • Camping Lantern Mantels

5. Imaging Applications Looking at clogged pipes Checking sealed cans for level of contents Looking for microcracks in mechanical parts, bridges, and welds Oil, gas, and mining companies map contours of test wells and mine bores Measurement Applications Measuring egg shell thickness Maintaining constant thickness for paper, metal, or fabric sheets Oil well logging Regulate blast furnaces, liquid metal in molds, and kiln load levels Road surface density gauges Industrial Applications

6. Sheet Thickness Control If too much radiation gets through, the sensor triggers a weakening of the rollers, so the sheet comes out thicker. If too little radiation passes, the sheet is too thick - so the sensor makes the rollers press harder. This feedback keeps the thickness the same.

7. Industrial Applications – cont’d • Production of coated paper • Production of heat and chemical resistance wire and cable • Wear and corrosion testing of engines • Toughen plastics and electronic components • Production of luminous paint and products such as exit signs, runway lights, lights, dials, gauges, and watches

8. Identification and Authentication • Artwork authentication • Criminal Forensics • Scan luggage to detect explosives or concealed weapons at airports • Identification of chemical elements in debris from space • Carbon-14 dating

9. Radioactive Tracers • Label molecules to trace them through metabolic processes • Used to track water flow in areas around landfills and waste sites • Weapons fallout acts as a global tracer for biogeochemical cycles • Measure internal combustion engine component wear

10. Agricultural Uses • Reduce post-harvest losses by suppressing sprouting and contamination • Breed disease-resistant livestock and plants • Preserve food products and seeds • Insect/pest control using sterilization rather than chemicals

11. Medical Science • Disease diagnosis and treatment (99mTc, 60Co, 131I) • Testing of new pharmaceuticals • Biomedical research - human genome project, cancer cell biology, AIDS and Alzheimer’s research • Positron Emission Topography [PET] (18F) • Magnetic Resonance Imaging [MRI] • X-rays • Sterilization of disposable medical supplies

12. Space Exploration • Small, nuclear powered generators, RTGs

13. New Technologies and Applications • Ion Implantation • Artificial implants • Improved wear resistance of mechanical parts • Plasma Processing • Computer chip manufacturing • Semiconductor and thin film processing