isotopes

Cobalt-60

Produced artificially in nuclear reactors. Medically used for radiation therapy (or as a medical tracer) as implants and external source for radiation exposure to kill microorganisms. a teletherapy unit as a source of intense gamma radiation. Also used for food irradiation or sterilization. Stereotactic radiosurgery using can also allow doctors to deliver higher doses of radiation to tumors, while limiting damage to the surrounding healthy tissue and organs. Also used to improve the safety and reliability of fuel oil burners

Phosphorus-33

Alongside P-32, it is also mainly used in life sciences research, including molecular biology and genetics. It is easily detected, measured, and is widely available in a variety of radiochemicals. lower energy beta emission and a longer half-life. Used to synthesize probes for several months after purchase. 33P is used as an alternative to 32P in research in molecular biology, making it simpler to manipulate due to its long half-life. Phosphorus-33 has half-life and energy properties which should render it superior to 32P as a radiotracer for phosphorus

Technetium-99

It is the most widely used radioactive pharmaceutical for diagnostic studies in nuclear medicine. Used in medical therapy in brain, bone, liver, spleen, kidney, and thyroid scanning and for blood flow studies. Medical tracer due to gamma ray energy of about 140 keV, convenient for detection, such as cancer, cardiovascular and other chronic diseases. Medical Imaging Scanners, including SPECT (single photon emission computerized tomography) machines then detect these isotopes as they decay. The preeminence of 99mTc is attributable to its optimal nuclear properties of a short half-life and a gamma photon emission of 140 keV, which is suitable for high-efficiency detection and which results in low radiation exposure to the patient

Carbon-14

Estimate the age (acting as a clock) of certain objects or how long an organism has been dead, in a process called “carbon dating.” Carbon-14 is a low energy beta emitter and even large amounts of this isotope pose little external dose hazard to persons exposed, and thus, cannot be used in nuclear medicine. The beta radiation barely penetrates the outer protective dead layer of the skin of the body. Also used as a radioactive tracer. In biochemistry,  it is also used to ensure that potential new drugs are metabolized without forming harmful by-products or side-effects

Sodium-24

is used as an electrolyte tracer to follow the path sodium takes in a person's body to see if their uptake levels are within normal ranges. It can also study the Circulatory System (Cardiology) and blood (Angiology), tracing blood circulation and blood clots before they become dangerous. Can also measure ECF (Extracellular Fluid) through indicator dilution.  In industry, it can be used to locate leaks in industrial pipe lines and in oil well studies.

Uranium-235

It can be fuel for nuclear power plants and the nuclear reactors that run naval ships and submarines. It also can be used in nuclear weapons like nuclear bombs. Used for photographic intensifiers, ceramic colorants, fluorescent glassware, dental porcelain additives, radiation shielding, military armor, and armor-piercing bullets. Produces nuclear power.

Iodine-131

Used in imaging the thyroid (and thyroid gland functioning) and in treating thyroid cancer and other abnormal conditions such as hyperthyroidism. Also works in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and tumor (similar to Cobalt-60). Also alters the mechanism of iodine absorption in the thyroid gland.

Americium-241

Used in some medical diagnostic devices and in a variety of industrial and commercial devices that measure density and thickness. It in ionization chamber smoke detectors makes the air in the detector's sensing chamber conduct electricity. Gamma rays from americium-241 used to provide passive diagnosis of thyroid function. Used in many detectors to measure (1) smoke in homes, (2) toxic lead in old wall paint, (3) the thickness of foil and paper while in production, and (4) water moisture or hydrocarbons (oil) in soil (to determine where oil wells should be drilled).

Phosphorus-32

Used in intraperitoneal infusion for treatment of tumors such as ovarian cancer and in the treatment of polycythemia vera. It is available for intravenous administration for bone pain palliation. is used in biochemical studies to follow the pathway taken by metabolites. is used in plant science to track the fertilizer absorption of plants from roots to leaves. Plants take up -containing compounds from the soil through their roots. By adding a small amount of radioactive to fertilizer and then measuring the rate at which radioactivity appears in the leaves, it is possible to calculate the rate of uptake of phosphorus from the soil.

Californium-252

Used commercially as a reliable, cost-effective neutron source for prompt gamma neutron activation analysis(PGNAA) of coal, cement and minerals, and detection of explosives, landmines and unexploded military ordinance. Detecting explosives: The _ is used as a source of neutrons to excite nitrogen which is commonly found in explosives. In construction, it gauges the moisture content of soil and measures the moisture of materials stored in soils.

Strontium-85

Mainly for bone scans. It permits detection of focal areas of increased calcium turnover by external scintillation counting or automatic scintillation scanning. Heat is used for thermocouples as long-lived electric power supplies in weather stations, navigational beacons, and space vehicles. This technique can improve the management of patients with suspected bone disease.  Strontium-85 is used in medicine to detect the increased levels of calcium in bone fractures and tumors

Carbon-14

Carbon dating of organisms and substances (Archeology), research to determine steps involved in plant photosynthesis

Phosphorus-32/33

Used in research involving biology and genetics

Selenium-25

Protein studies in life science

Strontium-85

Metabolism and bone formation studies

Hydrogen-3 or Tritium

Used to study life science and drug metabolism

Cobalt-60

Radiation therapy to prevent cancer

Iodine-131

Locate brain tumors, monitor cardiac liver and thyroid activity.

Carbon-14

Study metabolism changed for patients with diabetes, gout, and anemia

Carbon-11

Tagged onto glucose to monitor organs during a PET scan

Sodium-24

Study blood circulation

Thallium-201

Determine damage in heart tissue, detection of tumors

Technetium-99

Locate brain tumors and damaged heart cells, radiotracer in medical diagnostics (imaging of organs and blood flow studies)

Americium-241

For uniform thickness when rolling steel and paper, determine the location of oil wells

Sodium-24

Oil well studies and to locate leaks in pipe lines

Iridium-192

Test integrity of boilers and aircraft parts

Uranium-235

Nuclear power plant and naval propulsion systems fuel, production of fluorescent glassware and colored wall tiles

Californium-252

Determine moisture content of soil-important for road construction and building industries