Glossary R
Deutsch: Radionuklid / Español: Radioisótopo / Português: Radioisótopo / Français: Radioisotope / Italiano: Radionuclide
A radioisotope in the environmental context refers to a radioactive isotope of an element that naturally occurs or is artificially produced. These isotopes undergo radioactive decay, emitting radiation in the form of alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays. Radioisotopes have both beneficial and potentially harmful impacts on the environment and human health. They are used in a wide range of applications, including medical treatments, power generation, and as tracers in environmental and geological research to study processes such as water movement, soil Erosion, and the age of geological formations.
Deutsch: Radiometrische Datierung / Español: datación radiométrica / Português: datação radiométrica / Français: datation radiométrique / Italiano: datazione radiometrica
Radiometric dating in the environmental context is a technique used to date materials such as rocks, carbon, and other geological features based on the decay rate of radioactive isotopes. This method provides critical information about the age of geological formations and has profound implications for understanding the history of the Earth, including its climate, geological events, and the development of life.
Radon (Rn) is a cancer-causing radioactive gas found in many communities' ground water. Radon is a colorless, odorless, naturally occurring, radioactive, inert, gaseous element formed by radioactive decay of radium (Ra) atoms.