1. What are radioactive isotopes?

Of the 91 elements that are naturally occurring, more than 300 isotopes have been identified, and over 1000 additional artificial isotopes have been produced. According to research, naturally occurring and artificial isotopes have shown that some have unstable nuclei that spontaneously disintegrate to become more stable by releasing high energy particles, may it be individual or groups of subatomic particles, and/or by releasing high energy electromagnetic radiation. These particles and energy released in this nuclear change are called nuclear radiation, and atoms that emit nuclear radiation are called radioactive isotopes, or radioisotopes. 2. What are the uses of isotopes? Isotopes are utilized for different functions. The most common usage is that of the medicinal field. It has been used for different medical procedures, diagnosis, and therapy. The diagnosis of common diseases, such as heart disease and cancer, can be accomplished through the use of gamma rays emitted by isotopes to produce images using cameras. Another technique called Positron Emission Topography (PET) uses cameras to detect gamma ray emissions caused by positron annihilation. There is also a unique technique called Nuclear Medicine Diagnostic Imaging that provides information for a range of important medical conditions. Additionally, Nuclear Diagnostic Imaging is able to provide information at the cellular level, reflecting the local biochemistry of diseased or damaged tissues. In therapeutic techniques, targeted therapy using radiopharmaceuticals, medical compound containing common radioactive isotopes, are used for treatments of hyperthyroidism, synovitis, cancer, and palliative care of pain associated with secondary cancers. GammaKnife surgery, a development of cobalt therapy, is used to control benign and malignant brain tumors, obliterate aretriovenous malformations and relieve pain from neuralgia. There is also a medical procedure for the treatment of tumors by internal radiation therapy with sealed radioactive sources using implanted radioactive material placed directly into or near the tumor, this is called brachytherapy. Also, there is an increasing number of commercial companies that have invested in the development of therapeutic substances for radiotherapy with radiopharmaceuticals, and also several research organizations have been actively participating in this field.

REFERENCES Raymond, K.W. (2009). General, organic, & biological chemistry: An integrated approach (3rd Ed). Washington, USA: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated OECD Nuclear Energy Agency. (2004). Beneficial uses and production of isotopes. Paris, France: OECD Publishing