Technetium and Health However, the body constantly gets rid of Tc-99 in feces. As with any other radioactive material, there is an increased chance that cancer or other adverse health effects can result from exposure to radiation radiation Energy given off as either particles or rays.. However, the body constantly gets rid of Tc-99 in feces. As with any other radioactive material, there is an increased chance that cancer or other adverse health effects can result from exposure to radiation radiation Energy given off as either particles or rays..Jul 14, 2021

How is technetium-99 excreted?

One millicurie Tc99m decays to 3.3 × 10-9 mc Tc99. Excretion of Tc99m after administration of pertechnetate is rapid during the first twenty-four hours, mostly in the urine.

How long does technetium-99m stay in the body?

Yes, 99mTc decays to 99Tc, which is radioactive. However its half-life is about 211,000 years.

How is technetium-99m disposed of?

In diagnostic nuclear medicine a number of short-lived gamma emitters such as technetium-99m are used. Radioactive waste from nuclear medicine can be disposed of by leaving it to decay for a short time (a number of half-lives) before disposal as normal waste.

How does Tc-99m decay?

Technetium-99m decays by a process called isomeric transition, a process in which 99mTc decays to 99Tc via the release of gamma rays and low energy electrons. Since there is no high energy beta emission the radiation dose to the patient is low.

Is technetium 99m stable?

The most stable radioactive isotopes are technetium-97 with a half-life of 4.21 million years, technetium-98 with 4.2 million years, and technetium-99 with 211,100 years.

How is technetium 99m produced in a nuclear reactor?

Technetium -99m is produced by bombarding molybdenum 98Mo with neutrons. The resultant 99Mo decays with a half-life of 66 hours to the metastable state of Tc . This process permits the production of 99mTc for medical purposes.

Is Tc 99m toxic?

Technetium-99m has a photopeak of gamma-ray emission of 140.5 keV, making it a very minimal risk of toxicity. [3] The short six-hour half-life and rapid excretion from the body limit toxic effects and give enough time to perform its diagnostic imaging, all while limiting radiation exposure to the patient.

How do you get 99 molybdenum?

Mo-99 is produced in the uranium-bearing targets by irradiating them with thermal neutrons. Some of the U-235 nuclei absorb these neutrons, which can cause them to fission. The fission of the U-235 nucleus produces two but sometimes three lower-mass nuclei referred to as fission fragments.

Why is technetium unstable?

Technetium can only be produced artificially because most forms or isotopes of it (atoms of the same chemical element with different numbers of neutrons) have an excess of neutrons, making it very unstable.