Question

Considering only the half-lives of uranium-238 (4.47 x 10º years) and iodine-131, which

would be more appropriate for internal usage (ingestion) for medical tests? As a team,
write a consensus explanation for your choice.

Answer 1

Iodine-131, with its relatively short half-life of approximately 8 days, is more suitable for internal usage in medical tests compared to uranium-238 because it minimizes long-term radiation exposure and is naturally taken up by the thyroid gland.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering the internal usage of radioactive isotopes for medical tests, such as thyroid scans, the half-life of the isotope is an essential factor. Iodine-131, with a half-life of approximately 8 days, would be more appropriate than uranium-238, which has a half-life of 4.5 billion years. Iodine-131's short half-life ensures that it decays quickly and therefore does not remain in the body for an extended period, reducing the risk of prolonged radiation exposure. Additionally, iodine is naturally taken up by the thyroid gland, making it an ideal tracer for thyroid function tests.