4.3.2 Half-Life & Risk

Half-Life of Radioactive Isotopes

Associated Hazards

• Risk Assessment: The half-life of a radioactive isotope plays a crucial role in determining its potential risk.
  • Long Half-Lives: Isotopes with long half-lives remain radioactive for extended periods, posing a prolonged risk. These isotopes can be dangerous because they emit radiation over a long time, increasing the potential for exposure.
  • Short Half-Lives: Isotopes with short half-lives decay quickly, reducing their radioactivity in a shorter time. While they may emit intense radiation initially, the risk diminishes rapidly as they decay.