Californium-252 and actinium-225 generated half of the $5 million in sales for the Department of Energy's National Isotope Data Center at ORNL in fiscal year 2008. That amount represents a $1 million increase from 2007. Californium-252 used as a start-up source in nuclear reactors, in analyzers for the coal and concrete industries and in detectors for homeland security produced $2 million in sales. Actinium-225, an isotope extracted as a product of the decay of thorium-229 and used in radiotherapy trials for various cancers, including ovarian, lung and myeloid leukemia, accounted for more than $500,000. The Californium-252 is produced at ORNL's High Flux Isotope Reactor in conjunction with the lab's Radiochemical Engineering Development Center. ORNL offers a wide range of capabilities in isotope production and irradiation tests for materials research. Beyond these contributions, HFIR, supported by the Office of Science, is a world leader in producing neutrons for materials studies.
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