Nuclear technology at work

When we think of nuclear, we think of nuclear generating stations, or uranium, or maybe nuclear medicine. But there are many other applications for nuclear technology.

Food and agriculture

Ionization smoke detectors use a small amount of radioactive material to detect even invisible combustion gases produced by an open flame.

Canada is a leader in the development of the technology used to treat fruits, vegetables and meats with radiation to kill bacteria and parasites in food, and to prolong their shelf lives.

Our country also plays a leading role in using radiation in farming. For example, radiation can be used to sterilize male insects, with the sterilized insects replacing the use of chemical pesticides in agriculture. This is one of many ways that nuclear technology is being used in agriculture to improve production, control pests and reduce resource usage.

Industrial applications

Industries use nuclear technology to take measurements without direct physical contact, or to inspect finished products for weaknesses or flaws. Radiation or radioactive materials are also used in the consumer products industry – for example, in the production of smoke detectors and photocopiers.