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Iodine-131 (I-131) is a radioactive isotope of iodine with a half-life of eight days. It emits beta and gamma rays and is selectively accumulated by the thyroid gland. While not the most hazardous long-lived radioisotope due to its short half-life, excessive exposure to I-131 can lead to metabolic disturbances and an increased risk of thyroid cancer, particularly in children.123

I-131 is valuable in medicine for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. It is used to monitor thyroid gland activity, treat goiter and thyroid cancer, and locate tumors in the brain and liver. It also serves as a tracer in physiological processes and in investigations of metabolic pathways.42

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