"Today's announcement combines our ESG commitment with our drive to find innovative solutions that benefit the greater good, including utilising cobalt-60 to save lives."įramatome established Framatome Healthcare in July 2021 to build on its nuclear energy expertise and long-standing commitment in the field of nuclear medicine to advance medical products and services for the healthcare industry. "We produce the most carbon-free energy in the US, yet that is just one part of our commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) values," said Dave Rhoades, Exelon Generation chief nuclear officer. It is also produced in RBMK reactors and the BN-800 fast neutron reactor in Russia.Įxelon Generation and Framatome have been "long-standing partners" and bring together "cost-efficient and reliable solutions from the nuclear industry to also support the development of critical supplies in the healthcare sector," said Frédéric Lelièvre, senior executive vice president of Sales, Regional Platforms and I&C Business Unit at Framatome. Most of the world's supply of the isotope is produced by irradiation of naturally occurring cobalt-59 in Candu reactors, mainly in Canada but also in Argentina, China and South Korea. Under the MoU, which was signed on 23 December, the two companies will cooperate on technology development and assess the feasibility and economics of Co-60 production in PWR reactors for industrial and medical purposes as long-term demand continues to grow.Ĭo-60 is used to sterilise medical devices and is also used in cancer treatment. A Co-60 source in use at a sterilisation facility (Image: Framatome) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protects people’s health and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries enhances health decisions by providing credible information on critical health issues and promotes healthy living through strong partnerships with local, national, and international organizations.A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Framatome and Exelon Generation will see the two companies work towards the production of cobalt-60 (Co-60) in pressurised water reactors (PWRs) for medical and industrial uses. įor more information on protecting yourself before or during a radiologic emergency, see CDC’s fact sheet titled “Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About a Radiation Emergency” at /radiation/emergencyfaq.htm, and “Sheltering in Place During a Radiation Emergency,” at /radiation/shelter.htm. Co-60 absorbed by the liver, kidneys, or bone tissue can cause cancer because of exposure to the gamma radiation.įor more information about Co-60, see the Public Health Statement by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry at, or visit the Environmental Protection Agency at.
Most Co-60 that is ingested is excreted in the feces however, a small amount is absorbed by the liver, kidneys, and bones.
#Cobalt 60 for sale skin
It resembles iron or nickel.īecause it decays by gamma radiation, external exposure to large sources of Co-60 can cause skin burns, acute radiation sickness, or death. Co-60 can occur as a powder if the solid sources have been ground or damaged.Ĭo-60 is a hard, gray-blue metal.
Co-60 also is a byproduct of nuclear reactor operations, when metal structures, such as steel rods, are exposed to neutron radiation.Ĭo-60 occurs as a solid material and might appear as small metal disks or in a tube, enclosed at both ends, that holds the small disks. Radioactive Co-60 is produced commercially through linear acceleration for use in medicine and industry. Nonradioactive cobalt occurs naturally in various minerals and has long been used as a blue coloring agent for ceramic and glass. Co-60 also is used for food irradiation, a sterilization process. It is used industrially in leveling gauges and to x-ray welding seams and other structural elements to detect flaws. Mode of decay: Beta particles and gamma radiationĬhemical properties: Metallic solid that can become magnetically chargedĬo-60 is used medically for radiation therapy as implants and as an external source of radiation exposure.
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