One of the largest and best-known application areas of nuclear power is energy production.According to the data of the International Atomic Energy Agency nuclear powerplant blocks operated in 30 countries in 2008. In that year no more new blocks have been put into operation, moreover one was even closed (2 Bohunice, Slovakia). The share of nuclear power plants in the electricity production worldwide was about 15%. The building of ten new nuclear power plants began in 2008. Currently in the world 44 blocks are under construction. Besides the energetic utilisation the filed of application of radioactive isotopes and ionizing radiation includes health care, industry, agriculture, scientific research and education as well. Radioactive materials and ionizing radiation are widely used in medicine for diagnostic and cancer therapeutic purposes.  The X-ray examinations and radiation sterilized single-use medical devices and methods are essential tools in medical practice. The ionizing radiation is effectively used in food packaging and to kill harmful micro-organisms in the from tropical countries. The industrial radiography has become a day-to-day procedure in revealing errors of machines and spare in preventing disturbances resulting from defects of materials. Radioactive isotopes and ionizing radiation play an important role in many other areas of industry, in agriculture and scientific research.

Source: OAH [2008]: "Safety of applied nuclear energy in Hungary", original here
Republished upon OAH's approval
Translated by Mónika Galántai
Image: Brüsszel, Atomium