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Therapy that uses a radioactive substance that gives off a type of high-energy radiation called an alpha-particle to kill cancer cells. The radioactive substance is injected into a vein, travels through the blood, and collects in certain tissues in the body, such as areas of bone with cancer.
How is alpha radiation used in everyday life?
Alpha particles have low penetrating power but this still provides a range of useful applications: smoke detectors – americium-241 is commonly used in ionising smoke detectors. Smoke that enters the detector reduces the amount of alpha particles that are detected and triggers the alarm.
What is beta radiation used for?
Beta radiation is used for tracers and monitoring the thickness of materials. Doctors may use radioactive chemicals called tracers for medical imaging. Certain chemicals concentrate in different damaged or diseased parts of the body, and the radiation concentrates with it.
Is alpha radiation used in medicine?
Alpha and beta radiation don't travel very far but are powerful. They are used primarily for treatment as they can damage and kill diseased cells.
Why is alpha radiation used in smoke detectors?
An isotope of americium which emits alpha particles is used in smoke alarms. Alpha radiation ionises the air and this allows a small current to flow between two electrodes. Alpha is weakly penetrating so smoke stops it, the current drops and the alarm goes off.
What can alpha penetrate?
Alpha particles can easily be shielded by a single sheet of paper and cannot penetrate the outer dead layer of skin, so they pose no danger when their source is outside the human body. Beta particles are essentially electrons emitted from the nucleus of a radioactive atom.
What type of radiation is used for sterilization?
Gamma irradiation Gamma irradiation is the most popular form of radiation sterilisation and is used when materials are sensitive to the high temperature of autoclaving but compatible with ionising radiation.
Is alpha radiation harmful?
Alpha particles pose no direct or external radiation threat; however, they can pose a serious health threat if ingested or inhaled., beta particles. Some beta particles are capable of penetrating the skin and causing damage such as skin burns.
What radiation is used for sterilization?
Gamma irradiation Gamma irradiation is the most popular form of radiation sterilisation and is used when materials are sensitive to the high temperature of autoclaving but compatible with ionising radiation.
How is radioactivity used in irradiating food?
The food does not come into contact with radioactive materials, but instead passes through a radiation beam, like a large flashlight. The ionizing radiation sends enough energy into the bacterial or mold cells in the food to break chemical bonds.