Radiation Answers - Mission Statement

Table of Contents

1. Home
2. Questions everyone asks
3. When to be concerned
4. Will it hurt me?
5. Radiation in everyday life
6. Myths and Reality
7. More information
   
   

More Information

1. Glossary
2. Radiation Exposure, Pregnancy, and Reproductive Risks
3. Everyday Radiation
4. Detecting and Measuring Radiation
5. Medical Uses
6. Industrial Uses
7. Food Irradiation
8. Radioactive Wastes
9. Radiation Regulating and Standards Organizations

Industrial Uses

There are many industrial uses of radioactive materials including material density evaluation, product sterilization, quality control, static elimination, and electricity generation. The radiation sources used for these processes include radiation-producing machines and sealed-source radioactive materials, to name two.  In this Appendix, we are going to describe a few of the uses that routinely improve our lives.

Gauging Devices

The use of radiation in devices used to gauge (measure or monitor) certain activities is probably one of the widest uses in industry.  These devices, which can be portable or set in a fixed position, can monitor the flow of liquids; can measure and control the thickness of metals, films, paper, and plastic; and can monitor material density.  Some gauging devices are also used to determine the content of materials as in the case of a moisture-density gauge that is often used to determine the water content of soil.  These types of devices generally contain radioactive materials that are gamma-ray or neutron emitters. 

There are other devices used for measurement that are not gauges.  These might include an x-ray fluorescence analyzer to determine the makeup or content of an item or something like a gas chromatograph used for quality control to assure the correct mixture or purity of a substance. 

Well Logging

Radiation is used in well logging to assist in determining whether a drilled well has certain rocks or minerals, oil, gas, or other substances of consumer value.  Well logging generally uses sealed sources containing radioactive materials that emit gamma rays or neutrons.  The depth of penetration of these radiations is an indication of the type of material. 

Industrial Radiography

Industrial radiography is also called nondestructive testing.  Radiation is used to inspect pipes, walls, and a variety of structures to look for defects.  The source can be a sealed source of radioactive material (iridium-192) or an x-ray machine.  An example of industrial radiography is when a radiation source is lowered into piping to the location of a weld and, with photographic film wrapped on the outside of the weld, a radiograph of the weld is taken to assure it is free of defect.

Sterilization

Some radiation devices are used to sterilize consumer products.  The devices used to do this are called irradiators and generally contain a gamma-emitting sealed source or sources.  These devices emit very high amounts of radiation and require significant shielding.  Commonly sterilized items include supplies used in hospitals and some food, which is discussed in the Food Irradiation section.  Another item being sterilized is mail that is going to certain addresses.  With the potential for biological compounds being used as terrorist devices and sent in the mail, irradiation of the mail will sterilize those compounds rendering them ineffective.

Power Generation

In cases where stringing electrical lines proves difficult, for instance in remote areas, radiation sources are used to produce electrical or thermal power.  Radiation sources can be used to power spacecraft and satellites, the lights on ocean buoys, and remote weather stations.  They can also be used to generate electrical power for consumer use as is done in a nuclear reactor. 

Of all of these processes, nuclear power is probably the most well known. In the United States, about 100 nuclear reactors produce 20 percent of our electricity needs. Around the world, there are between 400 and 500 reactors producing nearly 20 percent of the world’s need for electricity. Historically, there have been two main types of reactors—pressurized water reactors (PWR) and boiling water reactors (BWR). Both types use radioactivity (highly enriched uranium-235 being the most critical) to heat water that will generate steam to turn a turbine that runs a generator, sending the electricity out to the public. In the PWR, the water does not come in contact with the radioactivity; in the BWR it does.

Boiling Water Reactor

Pressurized Water Reactor

Today, in addition to the PWR and BWR, there are technologies being researched within the power industry to make the process safer, cleaner, and more efficient.  Information on current and new technologies can be found at http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/nuclear/page/analysis/nucenviss2.html.