Radioactivity types

Iodine has as many as 37 isotopes, many of which happen to be radioactive. Further to this, many of these isotopes form in the event of a nuclear explosion, and should they be released into the atmosphere it s advisable to take iodine supplements to prevent the natural iodine in the thyroid gland from being replaced by a radioactive type. This helps mitigate the risk of cancer forming in the thyroid gland. 

Let us consider a chemical reaction of the radioactive type X- A. In many experimental situations, the chemical reaction rate X depends on the position of the molecule X, due to the presence of a concentration or temperature gradient or of an external field. The position of the molecule changes due to diffusion and convection, The question arises what will be the effective reaction rate X, describing the decrease in the concentration of X Another way to state the problem is to ask for the average residence time of a molecule tp = 1/X. In the present contribution, we will consider a one-dimensional reactor. 

There are other less common types of radioactive decay. Positron emission results in a decrease by one unit in the atomic number K capture involves the incorporation of one of the extranuclear electrons into the nucleus, the atomic number is again decreased by one unit. 

Bottom hole assemblies and certain types of downhole equipment (e.g. logging tools, MWD tools) cost several US 100,000. Some logging tools will have radioactive sources which may need to be recovered or isolated for safety and legal reasons. However, prior to commencing fishing operations, a cost - benefit assessment will have to be made to establish that the time and equipment attributable to the fishing job is justified by the value of the fish or the cost of sidetracking the hole. 

The most important types of radioactive particles are alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays, and X-rays. An alpha particle, which is symbolized as a, is equivalent to a helium nucleus, fHe. Thus, emission of an alpha particle results in a new isotope whose atomic number and atomic mass number are, respectively, 2 and 4 less than that for the unstable parent isotope. 

Tracer Type. A discrete quantity of a foreign substance is injected momentarily into the flow stream and the time interval for this substance to reach a detection point, or pass between detection points, is measured. From this time, the average velocity can be computed. Among the tracers that have historically been used are salt, anhydrous ammonia, nitrous oxide, dyes, and radioactive isotopes. The most common appHcation area for tracer methods is in gas pipelines where tracers are used to check existing metered sections and to spot-check unmetered sections. 

Irradiation type Average energy, eV Coloration uniformity Induced radioactivity Locali2ed heating... 

ImmunO lSS iy. Chemiluminescence compounds (eg, acridinium esters and sulfonamides, isoluminol), luciferases (eg, firefly, marine bacterial, Benilla and Varela luciferase), photoproteins (eg, aequorin, Benilld), and components of bioluminescence reactions have been tested as replacements for radioactive labels in both competitive and sandwich-type immunoassays. Acridinium ester labels are used extensively in routine clinical immunoassay analysis designed to detect a wide range of hormones, cancer markers, specific antibodies, specific proteins, and therapeutic dmgs. An acridinium ester label produces a flash of light when it reacts with an alkaline solution of hydrogen peroxide. The detection limit for the label is 0.5 amol. 

In the startup of a reactor, it is necessary to have a source of neutrons other than those from fission. Otherwise, it might be possible for the critical condition to be reached without any visual or audible signal. Two types of sources are used to supply neutrons. The first, appHcable when fuel is fresh, is califomium-252 [13981-174-Jwhich undergoes fission spontaneously, emitting on average three neutrons, and has a half-life of 2.6 yr. The second, which is effective during operation, is a capsule of antimony and beryUium. Antimony-123 [14119-16-5] is continually made radioactive by neutron... 

Classification of wastes may be according to purpose, distinguishing between defense waste related to military appHcations, and commercial waste related to civiUan appHcations. Classification may also be by the type of waste, ie, mill tailings, high level radioactive waste (HLW), spent fuel, low level radioactive waste (LLW), or transuranic waste (TRU). Alternatively, the radionucHdes and the degree of radioactivity can define the waste. Surveys of nuclear waste management (1,2) and more technical information (3—5) are available. 

Activities and existing and projected volumes of all types of radioactive waste are Hsted in Reference 7. 

Spent fuel casks are of type B. For the movement of spent fuel, computer tracking systems are used. State radiological safety units are informed of shipments of spent fuel and other high activity radioactive materials so that these units may respond in case of accident. 

The geologic aspects of waste disposal (24—26), proceedings of an annual conference on high level waste management (27), and one from an annual conference on all types of radioactive waste (28) are available. An alternative to burial is to store the spent fuel against a long-term future energy demand. Uranium and plutonium contained in the fuel would be readily extracted as needed. 

The accident at the Three Mile Island (TMI) plant in Pennsylvania in 1979 led to many safety and environmental improvements (4—6). No harm from radiation resulted to TMI workers, to the pubHc, or to the environment (7,8), although the accident caused the loss of a 2 x 10 investment. The accident at the Chernobyl plant in the Ukraine in 1986, on the other hand, caused the deaths of 31 workers from high doses of radiation, increased the chance of cancer later in life for thousands of people, and led to radioactive contamination of large areas. This latter accident was unique to Soviet-sponsored nuclear power. The Soviet-designed Chemobyl-type reactors did not have the intrinsic protection against a mnaway power excursion that is requited in the test of the world, not was there a containment building (9—11). 

Analyses and experimental results used to assess the consequences of a severe potential accident have resulted in substantially reduced estimates of severe accident consequences. Comparing estimates made by the U.S. Atomic Energy Agency (27) in 1977 with those reported by the U.S. NRC (18,28) in 1990 shows that improved knowledge and plant modifications have reduced the cote damage frequency by a factor of 3—15, depending on reactor type. Additionally, the fractions of radioactive species that would be released are lower by a factor of 10—100,000, depending on the radioactive species. 

The methods for detection and quantitation of radiolabeled tracers are deterrnined by the type of emission, ie, y-, or x-rays, the tracer affords the energy of the emission and the efficiency of the system by which it is measured. Detection of radioactivity can be achieved in all cases using the Geiger counter. However, in the case of the radionucHdes that emit low energy betas such as H, large amounts of isotopes are required for detection and accurate quantitation of a signal. This is in most cases undesirable and impractical. Thus, more sensitive and reproducible methods of detection and quantitation have been developed. 

By this time, the Periodic Table of elements was well developed, although it was considered a function of the atomic mass rather than atomic number. Before the discovery of radioactivity, it had been estabUshed that each natural element had a unique mass thus it was assumed that each element was made up of only one type of atom. Some of the radioactivities found in both the uranium and thorium decays had similar chemical properties, but because these had different half-Hves it was assumed that there were different elements. It became clear, however, that if all the different radioactivities from uranium and thorium were separate elements, there would be too many to fit into the Periodic Table. 

Radioactive isotopes are characterized by a number of parameters in addition to those attributable to chemistry. These are radioactive half-life, mode of decay, and type and quantity of radioactive emissions. The half-life, defined as the time required for one-half of a given quantity of radioactivity to decay, can range from milliseconds to biUions of years. Except for the most extreme conditions under very unusual circumstances, half-life is independent of temperature, pressure, and chemical environment. 

Types of Dia.gnostic Isotopes. Isotopes used in nuclear medicine may be characterized by the source used to produce the radioactive isotope, by whether the isotopes are produced at a central location and shipped or at the clinic, or by the type of emission and thus the equipment used to detect them. The first of these, the sources, are summarized in Table 2. Some isotopes may be produced by more than one method. 

The NRC has developed special procedures for the handling, transportation, and storage of nuclear fuel because radioactivity can be a health hazard if not properly shielded. Spent fuel is typically transported by rail or tmck in heavily shielded (Type B), sealed, thick metal shipping containers designed to withstand possible accidents, such as derailments or coHisions, which may occur during transport. The NRC certifies that each shipping container meets federal requirements. The U.S. Department of Transportation sets the rules for transportation. 

The NRC also imposes special security requirements for spent fuel shipments and transport of highly enriched uranium or plutonium materials that can be used in the manufacture of nuclear weapons. These security measures include route evaluation, escort personnel and vehicles, communications capabiHties, and emergency plans. State governments are notified in advance of any planned shipment within their state of spent fuel, or any other radioactive materials requiring shipment in accident-proof. Type B containers. 

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