Radioactive isotopes used in cancer therapy have a “shelf-life,” like pharmaceuticals used in chemotherapy. Just after it has been manufactured in a nuclear reactor, the activity of a sample of 60Co is 5000 Ci. When its activity falls below 3500 Ci, it is considered too weak a source to use in treatment. You work in the radiology department of a large hospital. One of these 60Co sources in your inventory was manufactured on October 6, 2011. It is now April 6, 2014. Is the source still usable? The half-life of 60Co is 5.271 years.

Radioactive isotopes used in cancer therapy have a “shelf-life,” like pharmaceuticals used in chemotherapy. Just after it has been manufactured in a nuclear reactor, the activity of a sample of 60Co is 5000 Ci. When its activity falls below 3500 Ci, it is considered too weak a source to use in treatment. You work in the radiology department of a large hospital. One of these 60Co sources in your inventory was manufactured on October 6, 2011. It is now April 6, 2014. Is the source still usable? The half-life of 60Co is 5.271 years.