Industrial, Medical & Educational Uses of Radiation
Radiological materials are widely used for a variety of medical, scientific, and industrial purposes. The widespread use of radiological materials means that radiological accidents can occur in many common settings, such as vehicle accidents on road ways, or accidental occupational exposures, spills or releases in industrial, medical, or construction sites. Some common examples of the use of radiation are shown below.
For more information about the everyday uses of radiation, visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website: http://www.epa.gov/radiation/ or other websites in the Useful Links section of this website.
Medical Uses of Radiation
Many California hospitals, clinics, and medical and dental facilities use radioactive materials for medical research and for diagnosis and treatment of disease. Diagnosis can include routine x-rays and injections of radioactive materials for imaging. Treatment can include radiation used in cancer therapy, where the radiation dose is focused on a small area of the body.
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| • Imaging, such as x-rays
• Treatment, for diseases such as for cancer
• Sterilization of substances such as blood |
Industrial Uses of Radiation
There are many industrial uses of radiological materials. For example, the use of radioactive density gauges when inspecting soils for building foundations. Other uses include radiography cameras to inspect welds in oil pipelines and detect cracks in airplanes wings. California’s bridges are checked using radioactive gauges. Radioactive materials are also used in smoke detectors, to sterilize medical supplies, in production equipment to adjust the thickness of materials such as paper and plastic, and in gauges to measure volume and flow of liquid.
| Examples: | • Density Gauging, to determine ground density for road construction
• Well Logging, to characterize subsurface geologic formations
• Radiography, such as for x-raying pipes, welds, and valves for defects |
Scientific and Educational Uses of Radiation
There are many scientific and educational uses of radiological materials. For example, radio-carbon dating can be used to determine the age of anthropological artifacts.
| Examples: | • Chemical Tracing
• Sterilization
• Carbon Dating |
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