What is a radioactive substance?

Radionuclides (or radioactive materials) are a class of chemicals where the nucleus of the atom is unstable. They achieve stability through changes in the nucleus (spontaneous fission, emission of alpha particles, or conversion of neutrons to protons or the reverse).

What are the three radioactive substances?

The following radioactive elements are found naturally in the environment.

  • Alpha Radiation. Alpha radiation is a type of energy released when certain radioactive elements decay or break down.
  • Uranium. Uranium is a radioactive element that can be found in soil, air, water, rocks, plants and food.
  • Radium.
  • Radon.
  • Polonium.

What is the use of radioactive substance?

Radioactive sources are used to study living organisms, to diagnose and treat diseases, to sterilize medical instruments and food, to produce energy for heat and electric power, and to monitor various steps in all types of industrial processes.

How are radioactive substances used in hospitals?

Nuclear medicine procedures help detect and treat diseases by using a small amount of radioactive material, called a radiopharmaceutical. Some radiopharmaceuticals are used with imaging equipment to detect diseases. Radiopharmaceuticals can also be placed inside the body near a cancerous tumor to shrink or destroy it.

Who uses radioactive substances?

Medical Uses Hospitals, doctors, and dentists use a variety of nuclear materials and procedures to diagnose, monitor, and treat a wide assortment of metabolic processes and medical conditions in humans. In fact, diagnostic x-rays or radiation therapy have been administered to about 7 out of every 10 Americans.

What is difference between radioactive substance and radioactivity?

For example, the term is used as follows: “This water contains radioactive materials.” Although the term “radioactivity” is sometimes used in the meaning of radioactive materials, in the field of natural sciences, the term only refers to the ability to emit radiation.

What are some examples of radioactive substances?

One example of a radioactive substance is uranium. In nuclear power plants, uranium is used to produce electricity. When radioactive substances like uranium produce radiation, they also create a lot of heat.

What are the hazards of radioactive substances?

Exposure to large amounts of radioactivity can cause nausea, vomiting, hair loss, diarrhea, hemorrhage, destruction of the intestinal lining, central nervous system damage, and death. It also causes DNA damage and raises the risk of cancer, particularly in young children and fetuses.

Why is it called radioactive?

As its name implies, radioactivity is the act of emitting radiation spontaneously. This is done by an atomic nucleus that, for some reason, is unstable; it “wants” to give up some energy in order to shift to a more stable configuration.

What is the purpose of the Radioactive Substances Act?

An Act to make provision for the regulation and control of the sale, use, keeping and disposal of radioactive substances and radiation apparatus; to repeal the Radioactive Substances Act 1957; and for other purposes.

What is the object of the Radiation Safety Act?

(2) The object is to be achieved mainly by— (a) establishing a licensing regime to regulate— (i) the possession and use of radiation sources; and (ii) the transportation of radioactive substances; and (b) establishing a legislative framework to ensure radiation sources and the premises at which they are used, and the

What is the Radiation Safety Act in Queensland?

Radiation safety legislation Radiation Health administers Queensland’s Radiation Safety Act 1999 and the Radiation Safety Regulation 2010. The objective of Radiation Safety Act 1999 is to: protect persons from health risks associated with exposure to sources of ionising radiation and harmful non-ionising radiation

What is the Radiation Control Act 1990?

An Act to make provision for the regulation and control of the sale, use, keeping and disposal of radioactive substances and radiation apparatus; to repeal the Radioactive Substances Act 1957; and for other purposes. This Act may be cited as the Radiation Control Act 1990. This Act commences on a day or days to be appointed by proclamation.