For many brain cancers, Cobalt-60 therapy is one of the most precise and advanced forms of radiation treatment available. Stereotactic Radiosurgery using Cobalt-60 therapy allows doctors to deliver higher doses of radiation to tumours, while limiting damage to the surrounding healthy tissue and organs. Moreover, the cobalt-60 used in radiation therapy can result in both acute and delayed symptoms, namely fatigue, headaches of varying severity, dizziness and hair loss.One of the technological advancements is the Elekta Gamma Knife® surgery, which uses an innovative tool that allows for non-invasive treatment of brain disorders, which is complex to do through conventional means. Because cobalt-60 is absorbed by the livers, kidneys and bone tissues, it can compromise the functions of these organs. Stolen cobalt-60 proves how easily dirty bomb materials can be acquired and deployedĬobalt-60 is an isotope of cobalt that can cause a wide array of health problems.Radioactive tissue holders found at Bed, Bath & Beyond reveal hypocrisy of failed national security.Nuclear accident cover-up? Radioactive Iodine-131 detected across Europe… no one knows why.
How hospital equipment allows terrorists to easily make dirty bombs that could irradiate entire cities.Bed, Bath & Beyond pulls radioactive tissue holders off shelves.To minimize cobalt-60 exposure, opt to purchase organic foods or those that have been labeled as “non-irradiated.” Where to learn more Though the FDA requires bulk foods to be individually labeled as such, this isn’t applicable to foods with multiple ingredients, such as foods that contain irradiated spices. As per the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), irradiated foods will typically have the Radura symbol (a plant enclosed in a circle, with the top half of the circle dashed) and the words “Treated with radiation” or “treated by irradiation” on the label. Those who aren’t undergoing radiation therapy will most likely become exposed to cobalt-60 through irradiated foods. When used in food irradiation, cobalt-60 is most often found in: Moreover, some cases have showed that radiation therapy can lead to the development of tumors in the brain, though this is a rare occurrence. The onset symptoms of radiation therapy include poor memory, confusion, personality changes and slower thinking. This material has been shown to affect the brain as well. This because the liver, kidneys and bones absorb small amounts of cobalt-60, in turn increasing the risk of cancer. However, a small amount continues to remain in the body. Body systems affected by cobalt-60Ĭobalt-60 that’s been ingested is usually eliminated through the excretion of feces. In addition, cobalt-60 has been linked to radiation necrosis, or the death of brain tissue brought about by radiation treatment. While some patients experience little more than a mild headache, others feel profound dizziness, significantly more painful headaches, and may even lose consciousness. All patients who have undergone radiation therapy have experienced varying degrees of cerebral edema, or brain swelling.
Cobalt 60 machine parts skin#
For example, contact with a large amount of Cobalt-60 has led to people experiencing skin burns or acute radiation sickness, a serious illness characterized by nausea, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea and hair loss.Īccording to, cobalt-60 exposure can cause various acute and delayed neurological effects. As such, exposure to this material can result in a plethora of health complications. Other uses for cobalt-60 include being utilized in radiation therapy and in food irradiation, a sterilization process meant to improve the safety and extend the shelf life of foods.Ĭobalt-60 decays through gamma radiation. The most frequent applications of cobalt-60 are industrial, namely in thickness gauges and leveling devices. Cobalt-60, also known as co-60, is the most common cobalt isotope and can occur as a solid material or as a powder if the solid source has been damaged or ground up. A by-product of nuclear reactor operations, cobalt-60 is formed when metal structures come into contact with neutron radiation. Cobalt-60 is a synthetic, radioactive isotope of cobalt, a hard, gray-blue metal.
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