Abstract
Radioisotope techniques used for measurement and control of industrial pollution include radioisotope instruments and tracers, activation analysis, and radiation treatment of waste water and processing of chemicals. Radioisotope instruments monitor and control potential sources of pollution such as sulphur in hydrocarbons or ash in coal and papers, measure the concentration of pollutants in air and water, and assist in the control of sewage treatment plants.
Activation analysis provides a sensitive, specific and versatile method for elemental analyses of pollutants in air, water, plants and animals, while radioisotope tracer techniques permit the study of the movement of liquid effluents and atmospheric pollutants, and trace the origins of oil spillages. Radiation treatment of waste water is feasible but uneconomic at present, and radiation processing can produce chemicals useful in combating pollution.
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