Cobalt-60: the heart of gamma-radiation sterilization

Currently, more than three million cubic metres of single-use medical devices are sterilized by gamma radiation each year. The wide use of this method of sterilization is a result of the lethal effects of ionizing radiation on microbial populations and the penetrative powers of cobalt-60. This article describes how cobalt-60 is produced and used in gamma-radiation sterilization, and how it is disposed of once it has reached the end of its useful life. Cobalt-60 sources typically have a life of 20 years, at which point they are returned to the suppliers for re-encapsulation, reprocessing, recycling, or disposal.