Uses of Cesium-137

Cesium is a soft, silvery white metal occurring in nature and is known as cesium-133. It can be either radioactive or non-radioactive. There are 11 major radioactive isotopes--atoms of an element that have a different number of neutrons--of cesium. Cesium-137 is the most common radioactive isotope of cesium.

Properties

• Cesium is one of only three metals that exists as a liquid near room temperature (83 F). It is malleable and produced by nuclear fission of uranium and plutonium. Radioactive cesium-137 has a half life of 30 years and decays via beta decay accompanied by the release of gamma radiation.

Uses

• Cesium compounds are used in the production of ceramics and glassware. Cesium-137 is used in the calibration of radiation detection instruments, in gauges that detect the flow of liquids in pipes and in other devices to measure the thickness of things such as paper and photographic film. Cesium-137 is useful in the oil well industry in determining rock strata layers. It is also used in brachytherapy via radiation treatment of some cancers.

Human Exposure

• Large amounts of Cesium-137 can cause acute radiation sickness as well as burns to the skin. Almost all Cesium-137 ingested is absorbed into the bloodstream, giving it ready access to soft body tissues. The resulting gamma radiation emission in these tissues increases the likelihood of cancer in an exposed individual.