Uses and Hazards of Radiation

This lesson covers the practical applications of radioactive sources in medicine, industry and everyday life, how the choice of source depends on the type of radiation and half-life, and the hazards associated with radiation. This is part of the AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy specification (8464, section 6.4.3).

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Choosing the Right Source

When selecting a radioactive source for a particular application, you must consider:

Factor	Why it matters
Type of radiation (alpha, beta or gamma)	Determines penetrating power and ionising ability — must match the application
Half-life	Must be appropriate — too short and the source decays before it is useful; too long and it poses a prolonged hazard
Activity	The source must emit enough radiation to be detected or have the desired effect

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Medical Uses

Medical Tracers

A radioactive tracer is a substance containing a radioactive isotope that is injected, swallowed or inhaled. It travels through the body and is detected from outside using a gamma camera.