5 Things People Probably Don’t Know About Isotopes
At the recent Canadian Nuclear Association conference, our team asked participants what they wished more people understood about the nuclear industry. One topic came up repeatedly: isotopes.
Radioisotopes are woven into everyday life in ways most people never realize. In fact, isotope-enabled technologies contribute to roughly 60% of Canada’s GDP, touching nearly every major industry. Here are five facts about isotopes that may come as a surprise.
Fact 1: Canada is a leader in isotope production
Most of the world’s critical medical and industrial isotopes are produced in a relatively small number of nuclear reactors. Neutrons generated during the fission process can transform stable atoms into radioactive isotopes used in medicine, industry, agriculture, and research. Canada is strengthening its position as a global isotope supplier, and Ontario has launched a strategy to double isotope production by 2030 through investments in new processing facilities, government support, and industry partnerships.
Fact 2: Isotopes can feed the world more safely and efficiently
Isotopes help protect food supplies, expand crop production, and reduce waste. Food irradiation reduces bacteria, pests, and spoilage, safely prolonging shelf life. Nuclear techniques also monitor soil health, optimize fertilizer use, and determine how nutrients move through crops and ecosystems, improving agricultural efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts.
Fact 3: Isotopes improve industrial safety and productivity
Today’s manufacturers rely heavily on isotopes to inspect critical infrastructure without damaging it. They are used to examine welds and pipelines, measure material thickness, detect leaks, monitor corrosion, and upgrade industrial processes. From energy and aerospace to automotive and construction, industrial radiography allows companies to strengthen quality control, maintain safety, and increase productivity.
Fact 4: Isotopes are enabling space exploration
Isotopes provide reliable power and scientific tools for missions that travel too far from the Sun to rely on solar energy. Radioisotope thermoelectric generators convert heat from plutonium-238 into electricity, letting spacecraft and rovers operate for decades without refuelling. Isotopes are also used in scientific instruments that analyze planetary surfaces and study the age and composition of rocks and atmospheres.
Fact 5: Isotopes support modern healthcare every day
More than 10,000 hospitals worldwide use medical isotopes. Cobalt-60 sterilizes approximately 40% of all single-use medical isotopes, while nuclear medicine is used for tens of millions of diagnostic and treatment procedures annually. Breakthroughs in imaging and targeted cancer therapies are transforming patient care, and Canada continues to expand its role as a leader in medical isotope production. Organizations like the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council are helping to raise awareness through initiatives such as Isotopes for Hope.
From activation in the nuclear reactor to application in farmers’ fields, manufacturing plants, hospitals and research facilities, and even outer space, isotopes quietly underpin much of contemporary life. Most people benefit from isotopes in their daily life. They just don’t know it yet.
The industry is working hard to shift the conversation from “what we wish people knew” to openly sharing the real-world progress isotopes are making possible: enriching lives today while supporting the technologies and industries that will shape the future.
Learn more about the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council and the important role that isotopes play in protecting human health.