Which type of radiation source would pose the greatest health risk when used internally for a medical procedure?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Alpha particles are the most harmful when they are emitted within the body because they have a high energy and are relatively large, which means they can cause a lot of damage to nearby cells. Additionally, if an alpha emitter is incorporated into the body, it can continue emitting alpha particles for the duration of its half-life, which can increase the amount of damage done. In this case, the fact that the half-life is only 6 hours means that the body will be exposed to alpha particles for a relatively short time, but it also means that the source will decay quickly, which could make it more difficult to track and remove from the body if necessary.

Which Type of Radiation Source Would Pose the Greatest Health