General uses
It is produced artificially in nuclear reactors. Cobalt-60 is used to sterilize medical equipment, as a radiation source for medical radiotherapy, industrial radiography, food and blood irradiation.
Advantages
Cobalt-60 is a high intensity gamma-ray emitter capable of screening large objects such as vehicles or sterilizing medical equipment. It can irradiate food and blood on an industrial scale.
Risks
The uncontrolled disposal of Cobalt-60 in scrap metals is responsible for the radioactivity found in several iron-based products.