#Ontario, #Canada: a leader in life-saving isotopes
Ontario’s nuclear power plants and robust nuclear supply chain play in production of isotopes used for a variety of critical functions, including:
- Treatment of cancer and other diseases
- Sterilization of medical devices
- Medical imaging
- New drug development
- Food preservation
About half of the world’s Cobalt-60 (Co-60) comes from Ontario nuclear plants. The isotope has been critical during the COVID-19 pandemic for a variety of uses, including sterilization of gloves and testing swabs.
Both Pickering and Darlington nuclear generating stations play a role in ensuring a steady supply of an array of life-saving isotopes. Co-60 is currently produced at Pickering and, after modifications as part of Darlington’s refurbishment, will be produced there. As well, OPG subsidiary Laurentis Energy Partners plans to produce and extract both Molybdenum-99 (Moly-99) and Helium-3 (H-3) at Darlington.
Read more at: Ontario a leader in life-saving isotopes (yahoo.com)
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