Table 14.2
Properties of radioisotopes commonly used in the biological sciences
Property
3 H
14
C
35
S
32
P
33
P
125
I
131
I
t1/2
12.3 years
5730 years
87.4 days
14.3 days
25.4 days
59.6 days
8.04 days
Mode of decay
bbbbb
X (EC) and Augerelectrons
g
and
b
Max
b
energy (MeV)
0.019
0.156
0.167
1.709
0.249
Augerelectrons 0.035
0.806
ALI
a
480 (Mbq)
b
34 (Mbq)
15 (Mbq)
6.3 (Mbq)
14 (Mbq)
1.3 (Mbq)
c
0.9 (Mbq)
c
Maximum range in air
6 mm
24 cm
26 cm
790 cm
49 cm
>
10 m
>
10 cm
Shielding required
None
1 cm acrylic
1 cm acrylic
1 cm acrylic
1 cm acrylic
Lead 0.25 m orlead-impregnatedacrylic
Lead 13 mm
g
dose rate (
mSv h
-1
from 1 GBq at 1 m)
–––(
b
dose rate
760
mSv, 10 cm
from 1 MBq)
–41 51
ˇCerenkov counting
Yes
Notes:
aAnnual limit on intake, based on a dose limit of 20 mSv using the most restrictive dose coefficients for inhalation or ingestion.
bBound
3 H.
cBased on dose equivalent limit of 500 mSv to thyroid.