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Why Is Radioactive Strontium Bad for Humans?

Strontium-90 is one of the radioactive isotopes of strontium, a naturally occurring element. Strontium-90 is produced as a byproduct of nuclear fission and is highly radioactive. Radioactive strontium is bad for humans because it can be readily absorbed the human body, where it builds up in the bones and teeth. Exposure to the radioactive isotopes of strontium can also increase the risk of cancer.

  1. The Element Strontium

    • Strontium is a natural element, and it is atomic number 38 on the periodic table of the elements. Strontium is a silvery white metal that is solid at room temperature. Strontium is highly reactive and when sliced into small pieces it will ignite when exposed to air. Strontium, in the form of the compounds strontium carbonate and strontium nitrate, is used to add a bright red color to fireworks.

    Isotopes of Strontium

    • Strontium has 28 known isotopes. Isotopes are different atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons, but a different number of neutrons in their atomic nucleus. Only four of the isotopes of strontium are stable elements. Of these, the most common isotope of strontium is strontium-88, which contains 88 neutrons in its nucleus.

    Strontium-90

    • Although strontium has 24 isotopes that are radioactive, the strongest isotope, and the most dangerous to humans, is strontium-90. This isotope is the by-product of fission in nuclear reactors, and is produced when uranium and plutonium break down. Strontium-90 has a half-life of 29.1 years, and is a very potent source of radioactivity. Although strontium-90 was found in nuclear fallout during the 1950s and 1960s, most of that material has decayed and is no longer a primary source of radiation. However, the meltdown at Chernobyl released a great deal of strontium-90 into the air over parts of Russia and Europe.

    Strontium in the Environment

    • Strontium is highly reactive chemically, and it can form many different kinds of chemical compounds. This means that it is fairly easy for a human being to come into contact with a compound that contains strontium. While people may inhale the radioactive element, it is most likely to be ingested in contaminated food or water supplies.

    Health Effects

    • Radioactive strontium behaves chemically much like calcium, so the human body tends to use it the same way that it would use calcium and the radioactive isotopes end up in the skeleton and teeth. Strontium-90 builds up in the bone marrow and interferes with the body's ability to produce healthy blood cells. This creates anemia and interferes with the blood's ability to clot properly. And because the strontium becomes part of the bones, it is not readily removed from the body and continues to wreak havoc. While low levels of exposure are not harmful, long-term exposure to radioactive strontium can increase the risk of cancer such as leukemia.

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