Uses and Benefits of Radioactivity with the pro and cons

C-14

• Used to date living (organic) material

• Extremely long half-life (5,730 years)

U-238 → Pb-206

Used to date rocks and many other geological formations

Tc-99

Used to detect tumors (brain tumors) → accumulates in the tumor and will allow the tumor to show up on a CT scan or MRI

I-131

Used in small doses to detect thyroid disorder (shows where the thyroid is over active)

Co-60 

Used to destroy and halt uncontrolled growth of cancer cells through radiation therapy (also kills good cells) 

Cs-137 and Co-60

Also used in food industry to preserve food and halt the growth of microbes 

Medical Uses

Most isotopes used in medicine are quickly eliminated from the body because they have a short half-life and pose no long term threat

Chemical Tracers 

Radioisotopes that are used to trace the path of a chemical through a system (CT scan with contrast)  

Pros 

• Large amounts of electricity can be generated from a single plant with the use of minimal fuel

• Creates new jobs 

Cons

• Meltdowns can occur

• High level nuclear waste products are highly radioactive and can stay this way for thousands of years

• Radiation can mutate DNA