Radiation Technologies and Their Applications
Science & Technology › Nuclear Technology and Energy · Topic 13.9
Radiation technologies use radioactive isotopes and machines that make radiation, such as X-ray tubes and electron accelerators, for medicine, agriculture, industry and research. In medicine they give X-ray and CT imaging, nuclear imaging with technetium-99m, positron emission tomography, and radiotherapy for cancer with cobalt-60 or accelerators. In agriculture, radiation causes mutations to produce better crop varieties and is used for food irradiation to destroy germs and insects and to prolong shelf life. In industry, radiation is used for gauges, radiography to check welds, sterilisation of medical products and treatment of plastics. India's Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology under the Department of Atomic Energy supplies radioisotopes and equipment, and food irradiation is regulated under the Food Safety rules.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Science & Technology · Nuclear Technology and Energy
At a Glance
- Cancer therapy isotope Cobalt-60
- Imaging isotope Technetium-99m
- Food process Irradiation
- Supplier BRIT
- Indian machine Bhabhatron
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Science & Technology: Nuclear Technology and Energy
Where Does It Fit?
This topic follows the account of radiation and radioactivity. It shows how radiation is applied in everyday sectors such as health care and farming, which are important in examinations and in policy. Previous topic: Radiation and Radioactivity. Next topic: Radioactive Waste and Nuclear Waste Management.
Which Isotopes and Techniques Are Used in Medicine?
| Technique or isotope | Use |
|---|---|
| X-ray and CT scan | Use X-rays from a tube to image bones and organs. CT takes many X-ray views to build a 3D picture |
| Technetium-99m | The most widely used isotope in nuclear medicine, a gamma emitter with a half-life of 6 hours, used to image bones, heart and kidneys |
| Iodine-131 | Treats thyroid disease and thyroid cancer, since the thyroid takes up iodine |
| Fluorine-18 | Used in PET scans, in the sugar-like compound FDG to find tumours |
| Cobalt-60 | Gamma source in radiotherapy machines to treat cancer. India’s Bhabhatron is a cobalt teletherapy unit designed by BARC |
| Linear accelerator | Machine that produces high energy electron or X-ray beams for cancer therapy |
| Brachytherapy | Sealed radioactive sources placed in or near a tumour |
How Is Radiation Used in Agriculture and Industry?
- Mutation breeding: seeds are exposed to gamma rays or neutrons to create mutations and select better varieties. BARC has released many varieties of groundnut, pulses, mustard and rice
- Food irradiation: exposing food to gamma rays, electron beams or X-rays to kill microbes and insects, stop sprouting and extend shelf life. It does not make food radioactive
- Sterile insect technique: male insects are sterilised by radiation and released
- Industrial radiography: gamma rays check welds and castings for cracks
- Gauges: thickness, level and density gauges use radioactive sources
- Sterilisation: medical devices, syringes and bandages are sterilised by gamma rays
- Radiotracers: tiny amounts of isotopes trace water flows, leaks, sediment movement and fertiliser uptake
- Carbon dating: carbon-14 helps date archaeological finds up to about 50,000 years
What Else Should You Remember?
- Food irradiation in India: the Atomic Energy Act allows radiation processing of food, and the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards) rules permit certain foods such as onions, potatoes, spices and mangoes. The first plant, KRUSHAK, at Lasalgaon near Nashik started in 2002
- Radura symbol: a logo for foods that have been irradiated
- BRIT: Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology, a unit of the DAE in Navi Mumbai that produces and supplies radioisotopes and radiation equipment
- Mango exports: irradiation lets India export mangoes to the United States and other markets, with approved facilities
- Radiation sources: radiation processing uses cobalt-60 plants and electron beam accelerators
- Nuclear medicine centres: BARC and the Tata Memorial Centre produce and use isotopes and have programmes with PET and radiotherapy
- Production of isotopes: isotopes are made in research reactors such as Dhruva or in cyclotrons, as in Department of Atomic Energy and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
- Cancer burden: India has over a million new cancer cases a year, so affordable radiotherapy is important
- Safety: sealed sources need secure storage, since orphan sources can cause accidents, as in Nuclear and Radiological Disasters
- Regulation: AERB licenses radiation sources and machines
- Advantage: radiation methods can replace chemicals such as fumigants in some uses
- Public perception: clear communication helps people to understand that irradiated food is not radioactive
- Radiopharmaceuticals: compounds that carry an isotope to a particular organ, and are made in hospital radiopharmacies and cyclotron centres
- Theranostics: using a matched pair of isotopes for diagnosis and treatment, such as gallium-68 imaging followed by lutetium-177 therapy for some cancers
- Water and soil studies: tracers help to find sources of groundwater, measure leaks in dams and track movement of pollutants
- Polymer treatment: radiation cross-links plastics, wires and cables to make them stronger and heat resistant
- Waste treatment: electron beams can treat sewage and industrial effluent to break down pollutants
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Isotope uses: Tc-99m, I-131, Co-60, F-18
- Food irradiation: purpose, plant, logo
- Agriculture: mutation breeding
- Current affairs link: food irradiation rules and cancer care
- Common errors: saying that irradiated food becomes radioactive
As an analytical point, radiation technologies bring clear benefits in cancer care and food preservation. Strong safety rules, source security and public information keep them acceptable.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Medicine Isotope uses
- Food Irradiation
- Industry Radiography
What Came Next?
The next topic covers radioactive waste and nuclear waste management. Next topic: Radioactive Waste and Nuclear Waste Management.
Key People and Terms
- Radioisotope Radioactive isotope
- Radiotherapy Cancer treatment with radiation
- PET Positron emission tomography
- Irradiation Exposure to radiation
- Radiotracer Isotope used to trace flow
- BRIT Isotope supplier of DAE
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Tc-99m half-life: about 6 hours.
- I-131 treats thyroid conditions.
- Co-60 used in radiotherapy.
- KRUSHAK plant at Lasalgaon (2002).
- Irradiated food is not radioactive.
Do Not Confuse With
- Food irradiation and contamination Treated with radiation versus containing radioactive material
- CT and PET X-ray based versus isotope based imaging
- BRIT and BARC Isotope board versus research centre
Memory Hook
Technetium to see, iodine for the gland, cobalt to treat; irradiate to keep food long and not make it hot.
Mains Angle
Questions ask for isotope uses and food irradiation. These points help.
- Health Imaging and therapy
- Food Shelf life and exports
- Safety Source security
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the applications of radiation technology in health, agriculture and industry and the safeguards required.”
How to Answer
- Medicine Isotopes and therapy.
- Farm Mutation, irradiation.
- Industry Radiography, gauges.
- Safety Licences, source control.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Which isotope is most used in nuclear medicine?
Technetium-99m is the most widely used isotope in nuclear medicine. It emits gamma rays, has a short half-life of about six hours and can be attached to compounds that go to different organs, so it is used for imaging the bones, heart, kidneys and brain with gamma cameras.
What is food irradiation?
Food irradiation is the exposure of food to controlled doses of gamma rays, electron beams or X-rays to kill bacteria and insects, stop sprouting in onions and potatoes and delay ripening. It does not make food radioactive. In India it is regulated by food safety rules, and irradiated foods carry the Radura logo.
What is the Bhabhatron?
The Bhabhatron is a cobalt-60 teletherapy machine for the treatment of cancer, designed and developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in India at much lower cost than imported machines. It uses gamma rays from a cobalt-60 source to destroy tumour cells and has been installed in many hospitals.
How does mutation breeding work?
In mutation breeding, seeds or plant parts are exposed to radiation such as gamma rays to cause random changes in genes. Plants with useful new traits, such as higher yield, earlier maturity or disease resistance, are then selected and bred. BARC has released many improved varieties of crops by this method.
What does the Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology do?
The Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology, a unit of the Department of Atomic Energy based in Navi Mumbai, produces and supplies radioisotopes and radiation sources for use in medicine, agriculture, industry and research. It also makes equipment for radiation processing and radiotherapy.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Cobalt-60 is used in cancer radiotherapy.
As a gamma source.
2 Irradiated food becomes radioactive.
It does not.
3 Technetium-99m has a half-life of about six hours.
A short-lived imaging isotope.
4 Iodine-131 is used to treat thyroid disorders.
The thyroid takes up iodine.
Past Mains Questions on This Topic
This topic comes under Nuclear Technology and Energy. UPSC Mains questions asked on the matching syllabus topic, year-wise with marks:
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