192Ir

192Ir (iridium-192) is a radioactive isotope produced for use as a sealed radiological source. With a half-life of 73.83 days, it decays by beta minus emission to platinum-192. The decay is accompanied by the emission of several gamma rays, principally in the 300–700 keV range, which make the isotope useful for radiography and radiotherapy.

Most 192Ir is produced by neutron irradiation of stable 191Ir in nuclear reactors, and then fabricated into sealed sources encapsulated in corrosion-resistant capsules for safety. The resulting sources provide high-intensity gamma emission while maintaining containment to minimize leakage and exposure.

Applications: In industry, 192Ir is widely used in nondestructive testing by industrial radiography, where it is housed in portable exposure devices. In medicine, it is used for high-dose-rate brachytherapy, delivering localized radiation to tumors via afterloading systems. Its relatively short half-life allows for high activity while reducing long-term radioactivity.

Safety and handling: 192Ir is a strong gamma emitter and must be handled with remote tools and appropriate shielding. Sealed sources are regulated, with strict storage, transport, and disposal rules. Spent or damaged sources require specialized recovery and containment to prevent environmental release or exposure.