Phosphorus-32 is a radioactive isotope of phosphorus. The nucleus of phosphorus-32 contains 15 protons and 17 neutrons, one more neutron than the most universal isotope of phosphorus, phosphorus-31. Phosphorus-32  has a short half-life of 14.263 days and decays by beta decay so rapidly, 1.709 MeV of energy is generated during the decay. Phosphorus-32 could be found in various organic molecules , so it has wide applications in biochemistry,  medicine and molecular biology in which it can be applied to trace phosphorylated molecules. The location of the phosphorus-32 can be traced from outside the body to identify the location of potentially malignant tumors.

Phosphorus-32 makes it potentially harmful; its maximal specific radioactivity is 338 TBq/mmol. Representative security protection measures when working with phosphorus-32 include wearing a personal dosimeter to monitor exposure and an acrylic or perspex radiation shield to protect the body. Dense shielding, tungsten radiation shielding is more effective than lead shielding. Because the beta particle will interact with lead shielding to produce high-energy bremsstrahlung. So lead radiation shielding is always replaced by tungsten radiation shielding.

Tungsten radiation shielding could be placed around the radiation to reduce the affects of radiation on human body. Of all metals in pure form, tungsten has the highest melting point , lowest vapor pressure and the highest tensile strength. Due to its high density, it can shield and absorb radiation efficiently.