What exactly is the legitimate purpose of polonium 210?

Question

Is this a radioactive isotope used in nuclear medicine?
What type of radiation does it radiate? (X-ray, Gamma, etc.)

Answer 1

Polonium 210 is not used in nuclear medicine and is considered highly toxic. It emits alpha particles and only very rarely emits a gamma ray (1 gamma per 100,000 alpha).

It has very few practical uses but is being tested as a heat source and has also been used as a neutron trigger in nuclear bombs. It has been used as part of a device to eliminate static charge however safer alternatives are available. It has also been used for radioactive tracking of some items, and more recently (although I wouldn't say this is legitimate usage) as a poison.

Answer 2

t is a naturally occurring radioactive material that emits highly hazardous alpha (positively charged) particles.

It was first discovered by Marie Curie at the end of the 19th century.

There are very small amounts of polonium-210 in the soil and in the atmosphere, and everyone has a small amount of it in their body.

But at high doses, it damages tissues and organs.

.... It has industrial uses such as static control and as a heat source for satellite power supplies, but is not available in these areas in a form conducive to easy poisoning.

It is also present in tobacco.

Answer 3

I recently heard that several of the Russian space probes used it to generate heat and electricity. I also heard that the first known casualty from it was Marie Curie's dog, who inadvertantly inhaled a large dose and then subsequently died.