Radioactive Iodine

Views Updated: Dec 15, 2025

Abbreviation

I-131

Pronunciation

/ˌreɪdioʊˈæktɪv ˈaɪəˌdaɪn/

In South Korea, nuclear safety officials say they have found radioactive iodine in Seoul and several other areas.
The water is contaminated with radioactive iodine and it's leaking into the sea.
But people exposed to high levels of radioactive iodine can get thyroid cancer.
The main radionuclides representing health risk are radioactive caesium and radioactive iodine.
Since radioactive iodine decays rapidly, virtually all radiation ceases within a few weeks.