Iodine-131 (I-131) is a radioisotope of iodine which has several notable applications, particularly in medical treatment and nuclear diagnostics:
- Physical Properties:
- Atomic Number: 53
- Half-Life: Approximately 8.02 days
- Decay Mode: Primarily through beta-minus decay
- Emissions: Beta particles and gamma rays
- Medical Applications:
- Hyperthyroidism Treatment: I-131 is used to reduce thyroid function by emitting radiation that damages thyroid cells, thus reducing the production of thyroid hormones.
- Thyroid Cancer Therapy: Post-thyroidectomy, I-131 is employed to destroy any remaining thyroid tissue or metastatic cancer cells that might have spread.
- Diagnostic Imaging: Used in imaging techniques like scintigraphy to visualize the thyroid gland or detect thyroid cancer.
- History and Discovery:
- Discovered in 1938 by Glenn T. Seaborg and John Livingood at the University of California, Berkeley.
- Its medical use was recognized soon after, with the first therapeutic applications occurring in the late 1940s.
- Environmental Impact:
- Release from Nuclear Incidents: I-131 can be released into the environment from nuclear accidents like the Chernobyl disaster or Fukushima nuclear disaster, where it poses a risk due to its tendency to accumulate in the thyroid glands of humans and animals.
- Environmental Half-Life: Although its half-life is short, its presence in the environment can be significant immediately following a nuclear event.
- Safety and Precautions:
- Radiation Protection: Medical staff and patients must follow strict protocols to minimize radiation exposure.
- Potassium Iodide Prophylaxis: In case of nuclear emergencies, potassium iodide can be administered to block the uptake of I-131 by the thyroid.
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