Iodine-131

Iodine-131 (also called I-131) is an important radioisotope of iodine discovered by Glenn T. Seaborg and John Livingood in 1938 at the University of California, Berkeley. It has a radioactive decay half-life of about eight days. It is associated with nuclear energy, medical diagnostic and treatment procedures, and natural gas production. It also plays a major role in nuclear medicine.

Beta-decay

Production

Iodine-131 is produced in a nuclear reactor, and it is a fission product of uranium and plutonium, comprising nearly 3% of the total products of fission (by weight). It is usually created by the neutron activation of natural iodine in nuclear reactors.

Uses

Iodine-131 is used extensively in the nuclear medicine field, particularly in the treatment of thyroid cancer and hyperthyroidism. It is also used in radioimmunoassay techniques in the medical laboratory.

Health effects

Exposure to Iodine-131 can have serious health effects, particularly for the thyroid gland. It can lead to thyroid disease, including thyroid cancer. It is also a significant contributor to the health hazards of nuclear accidents.

See also

• Isotopes of iodine
• Radioactive iodine uptake test
• Radioactive tracer
• Radioisotope