Strontium 90 a bigger deal then previously thought?

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  • Thread starter Galteeth
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In summary, Strontium 90 is a beta emitter that can be absorbed by plants and animals. It has a human scale half-life and can be a cause for cancer in later life.
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  • #3
Did anyone ever think Sr90 wasn't a big deal!
I thought it was one of the perfect storm radiological hazards, beta emitter, human scale half-life and Calcium compatible.
 
  • #4
mgb_phys said:
Did anyone ever think Sr90 wasn't a big deal!
I thought it was one of the perfect storm radiological hazards, beta emitter, human scale half-life and Calcium compatible.

Ditto. People's fears of radioactivity are often overblown, but with 90Sr it's well-founded. It's a strong enough beta emitter that it's something of a concern externally, but internally it replaces calcium in the bones. Also it has a half-life short enough to be a strong source but long enough that it takes decades to decay.
 
  • #5
CRGreathouse said:
Ditto. People's fears of radioactivity are often overblown, but with 90Sr it's well-founded. It's a strong enough beta emitter that it's something of a concern externally, but internally it replaces calcium in the bones. Also it has a half-life short enough to be a strong source but long enough that it takes decades to decay.

Can it be absorbed by plants as well as animals?
 
  • #6
Galteeth said:
Can it be absorbed by plants as well as animals?

Yes, it doesn't necessarily do the plants much harm - but if the plants are then fed to animals
 
  • #7
Don't get too excited/worried--yet. The study found a correlation between Strontium 90 levels in baby teeth and cancer in later life.

As a statistician I have to remind you that correlation does not imply causality. In this case, it could be that babies have genetic variability in their use of strontium in teeth, and this gene is also related to cancer risk. Or, and the sort of complex correlation that statisticians trace down all the time, smoking mothers may have been more likely to bottle feed babies, these babies are more likely to smoke in later life because their mothers did, and so on.

Notice that this possible scenario is a causal chain which has nothing to do with Sr90.

So where do you look for direct information on cancer rates caused by Strontium 90 and other isotopes? Around the Windscale facility in England, Mayak (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayak) in Russia, and Chernobyl in the Ukraine, and in areas where food grown in the immediate areas was consumed. So far such studies do show a risk from Sr90, but a lot smaller one than this study, and original risk estimates postulated. (And just to be fair and balanced, cancer rates from Iodine-131, which gets concentrated in the thyroid, were worse than originally expected.)
 

Related to Strontium 90 a bigger deal then previously thought?

1. What is Strontium 90 and why is it a concern?

Strontium 90 is a radioactive isotope of strontium, a chemical element found in small amounts in the earth's crust. It is a concern because it can be released into the environment through nuclear weapon testing, nuclear accidents, and nuclear waste disposal, and can have harmful effects on human health.

2. How is Strontium 90 different from other radioactive isotopes?

Strontium 90 is one of the most dangerous radioactive isotopes because it has a relatively long half-life of 28 years, meaning it remains in the environment for a long time and can continue to emit radiation. It also has a high affinity for bone tissue, where it can accumulate and cause damage to bone marrow and other organs.

3. Has the impact of Strontium 90 been underestimated in the past?

Yes, recent studies have shown that the effects of Strontium 90 may have been underestimated in the past. This is due to new research on its health effects and the discovery of previously unknown sources of contamination.

4. What are the potential health effects of exposure to Strontium 90?

Exposure to Strontium 90 can increase the risk of developing bone cancer, leukemia, and other types of cancer. It can also cause other health effects such as anemia, birth defects, and damage to the immune system.

5. What can be done to reduce exposure to Strontium 90?

To reduce exposure to Strontium 90, it is important to monitor and regulate its release into the environment from nuclear activities. Proper disposal of nuclear waste is also crucial. Individuals can also reduce their exposure by avoiding contaminated areas and consuming food and water from areas with lower levels of Strontium 90.

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