Co-60 Activation?

[PapaBear765]

I've seen this episode of How It's Made (great show) that shows how scalpel blades are made.  The last step of the process is to sterilize them before shipping by exposing them to a Co-60 source.  Maybe I'm not as Chem-Radcon smart as I should be, but doesn't that activate them and thereby make everyone handling them exposed to radiation?  Just curious.

[Rennhack]

Co-60 does not emit neutrons, it emits Gammas.

Activation happens when a neutron is captured by a nucleus.

[Motown homey]

When gammas interact they cause their harm to the material, and, being photons, disappear when they have expended all of their energy (much like visible light).  You can liken this to the fact that one can get a sunburn, but no one in their vicinity would get a sunburn from their proximity to the sunburned one.

[spentfuel]

Activation happens when a neutron is captured by a nucleus.

Say's it all

They also use these irradiators for medical equipment and some food sterilizations

A million curies of Co-60 kills bugs rather efficiently

sf

[Rennhack]

When gammas interact they cause their harm to the material, and, being photons, disappear when they have expended all of their energy (much like visible light).  You can liken this to the fact that one can get a sunburn, but no one in their vicinity would get a sunburn from their proximity to the sunburned one.

Good addition.