| Types |
Characteristics |
Uses |
Effects |
| Radium
(Ra) |
| - |
silvery
white
radioactive
material |
|
| - |
radiation
source for
treating
neoplastic
disease |
| - |
radon
source in
radiography of
metals |
| - |
neutron
source for
research |
|
| - |
exposure
via inhalation
has resulted in
acute leucopoenia |
| - |
oral
exposure has
resulted in
anemia, necrosis
of the jaw,
abscess of the
brain and
terminal bronchopneumonia |
| - |
via
oral exposure is
known to cause
lung, bone,
brain and nasal
passage tumors |
|
| Radon
(Rn) |
| - |
colorless,
odorless,
tasteless
radioactive
noble gas |
| - |
special
hazard:
radioactive |
|
| - |
cancer
treatment |
| - |
earthquake
prediction |
| - |
experimental
studies |
|
| - |
health
threat in homes
built on granite |
| - |
smokers
exposed are at
greater risk of
lung cancer |
| - |
exposure
via inhalation
has resulted
respiratory
effects (chronic
lung disease,
pneumonia,
fibrosis of the
lung) |
| - |
animal
studies have
reported effects
on the blood and
a decrease in
body weight |
|
| Uranium
(U) |
| - |
very
heavy silvery
white
radioactive
metal |
| - |
combustible
solid |
| - |
special
hazard:
radioactive |
| - |
routes
of exposure:
inhalation,
ingestion, skin
and/or eye
contact |
| - |
target
organs: skin,
kidneys, bone
marrow,
lymphatic system |
|
| - |
pigments
for glass |
| - |
fuel
in nuclear
reactors and
nuclear bombs |
| - |
depleted
uranium: casings
of armour
piercing
arterial shells,
armour plating
on tanks and as
ballast in the
wings of some
large aircrafts |
|
| - |
uranium
miners have
shown an
increase in lung
cancer and
tumors of the
lymphatic and
hematopoietic
tissues from
inhalation
exposure |
| - |
increase
of deaths of non
malignant
respiratory
disease |
|
| Plutonium
(Pu) |
| - |
artificially
created
radioactive
metal |
| - |
made
by bombarding
uranium with
neutrons |
|
| - |
used
in bombs and
reactors |
|
| - |
carcinogenic
which promotes
cancer
development |
| - |
mutation
to body tissues
and cells |
| - |
disruption
to normal fetal
development |
|
