What is artificial radioactivity ?

As opposed to natural radionuclides, artificial radionuclides are radioactive elements created by artificial means (~man-made radionuclides). Artificial radioactivity was discovered by Irène and Frédéric Joliot-Curie in 1934.

 

Artificial radionuclides can be produced by various means including nuclear reactors, particle accelerators, radionuclide generators and nuclear explosions.Some artificial radionuclides can be used as radiation sources for X-rays or for industrial and medical appliations (e.g. radiotherapy). Others are produced by nuclear reactors and may be highly radioactive, radiotoxic and non-recyclable. They represent nuclear waste that must be stored under high-security conditions.

 

Since the beginning of the 20th century, human activities have released artificial radioactivity into the environment including:

 

(source from Myohan / Nuclear Medicine Sandbox 2009) (source from Myohan / Nuclear Medicine Sandbox 2009)

• Radionuclides produced in the field of nuclear medicine for medical imaging or treatment.

 

Right: Example of normal whole body PET/CT scan with FDG-18. The whole body PET/CT scan is commomnly used in the detection, staging and follow-up of various cancers.

(source from www.nuclearweaponarchive.org/) (source from www.nuclearweaponarchive.org/)

• Fallout from atmospheric tests of nuclear weapons (1945-1980), venting from underground nuclear weapon tests and pollution from accidents in nuclear power plants.

 

 

Left: Thermonuclear test in Pacific island (USA Ivy test series, 1952).

• Regulated releases of radionuclides from industrial installations, nuclear energy research facilities and nuclear power plants.

Example of nuclear power plant (source from http://www.iftp-berlin.de/images/) Example of nuclear power plant (source from http://www.iftp-berlin.de/images/)