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Plutonium-238 and -239 Plutonium-238 and -239 are man-made radioisotopes that are created in nuclear reactors. Plutonium-238 has a half-life of 87.7 years, while plutonium-239 has a half-life of 24,100 years. Both emit primarily alpha radiation, and small amounts of gamma radiation. Plutonium-239 is used in nuclear weapons, such as the atomic bomb "Fat Man" that was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan in 1945. Plutonium-238 cannot be used in nuclear weapons. Radioactive plutonium-238 gives off heat that can be used as an energy source. For example, plutonium-238 is used to help power both satellites and heart pacemakers although the latter use has largely ceased. Inhalation or ingestion of plutonium in large enough amounts poses a great danger to bodily organs, since plutonium can stay in the body for decades and greatly increase the risk of cancer and kidney damage.
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This
material is produced independently for NTI by the Center for Nonproliferation
Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does
not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently
verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents.
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