Radioisotope tracing is a microanalysis method that uses radioactive isotopes as tracers to label research objects. This method is based on the similarity in chemical and biological properties between radioactive isotopes and their corresponding atoms, molecules, and compounds with ordinary substances, but with different nuclear physical properties, that is, radioactive isotopes can continuously emit rays with certain characteristics. By using radioactive detection methods, it is possible to track the movement and changes in the position and quantity of markers containing radioactive nuclides inside or outside the body at any time.



The basic principles and characteristics of radioactive isotope tracing method include:
Chemical and biological properties are similar: Radionuclides have the same chemical and biological properties as the corresponding atoms, molecules, and compounds of ordinary substances. Therefore, isotopes can be used as a marker to make labeled compounds containing isotopes (such as labeled food, drugs, and metabolites) instead of corresponding non labeled compounds.

Different nuclear physical properties: Radionuclides can continuously emit characteristic rays, which enables nuclear detectors to track their position, quantity, and transformation inside or outside the body.
High sensitivity, simple method, and accurate positioning and quantification: Radioisotope tracing method has these advantages, making it widely used in research work in various fields such as life sciences, industry, agriculture, and geology.



The application fields of radioactive isotope tracing are very extensive, including but not limited to the following aspects:
Industrial application: In the petroleum industry, radioactive isotope tracing technology can be used to map the water injection profile of water injection wells, evaluate the formation, adjust the allocation of water injection, and achieve increased and stable oil production. In the mechanical industry, it can be used for research on mechanical wear and leak detection. In the steel industry, it can be used to measure the degree of corrosion on the blast furnace walls. In hydraulic engineering, it can be used to detect the leakage situation of dams, etc.

Agricultural application: mainly used for studying fertilization methods, pathways, and fertilizer efficiency; The inhibitory and killing effects of insecticides and herbicides on insects and weeds; The effects of plant hormones and growth stimulating hormones on crop metabolism and function.

Biomedical applications: play an important role in clinical judgment and medical research, such as studying the process of energy intake and consumption in the human body, blood volume, thyroid function, iron deficiency anemia, etc.



Environmental research application: used to study the distribution, migration, and enrichment patterns of pollutants in various media of the environment (hydrosphere, soil sphere, atmosphere, biosphere, etc.).
Basic scientific research applications: play an important role in basic research such as physics, chemistry, biology, and geology, such as revealing the structure of DNA, studying chemical reaction mechanisms and their dynamic processes, etc.