Ingestion of I-131 and U-238. Which is worse?
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Which would you be more concerned about ingesting - radioactive iodine or U-238? Why
© BrainMass Inc. brainmass.com March 4, 2021, 8:16 pm ad1c9bdddfhttps://brainmass.com/physics/half-life/ingestion-of-i-131-and-u-238-which-is-worse-156544
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Hello
Definitely the I-131. This has a shorter half-life (8.30 days) and is a Beta emitter than U-238 (4.5 billion years) and is an Alpha emitter. The shorter half life means it has a higher emission rate and overall activity. Beta radiation (electrons) also have a greater penetration than alpha radiation (He atoms).
According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I-131, the following ...
Solution Summary
The health effects of I-131 and U-238 are discussed.
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