Radioactive Strontium

The purpose of this essay is to demonstrate that large exposures of radioactive Strontium-90 is deadly to humans. For years Strontium-90 has been used for several applications, it has been used in electron tubes, such as the Cathode-Ray Tubes found in televisions and computer monitors, its been used to generate electricity, to treat cancer, and it has been used as a radioactive tracer in agricultural studies[1]. Strontium is an alkaline earth metal, found in the periodic table in period 5, group 2[2]. It has a symbol of Sr, it is solid at room temperature, with an atomic # of 382. Strontium was discovered in 1787 by a man named William Cruickshank in Strontian, Scotland, the element was named after the town2. There are 16 different types of isotopes of Strontium, the most deadly of these being the radioisotope Strontium-90, because of its particularly long half-life of 28.6 years[4]. Although Strontium itself is not hazardous, but its radioactive isotope is, particularly if someone is exposed to it in large quantities[5]. Someone can be exposed to low or high doses of Sterontium-90 if it is eaten, drunken, or breathed in5. Large quantities of Strontium-90 can be found near nuclear power plants, or near explosions of nuclear weapons[6]. Strontium-90 is formed in nuclear power plants and in explosions of nuclear weapons, it is practically a waste product, and has limited use[7]. Strontium-90 itself is found in very small quantities in the natural environment, meaning without human intervention[8]. As said before, the radioactive isotope Strontium-90, in large doses, can have very serious consequences on human health, it can cause cancer, reduce blood cell levels, damages embryos or fetuses, and can be used to make weapons of mass destruction[9].

First and foremost, being exposed to high doses of radioactive Strontium-90, can cause several types of cancers9, this is perhaps the biggest danger of this isotope. The most commonly occurring cancer in human beings is bone cancer[10]. When large amounts of radioactive Strontium-90 is either eaten, drunken, breathed in, or contacted through skin5. Once Sterontium-90 is inside the body, it is taken into the bone, where calcium is suppose to go, and instead of calcium going into the bones, radioactive Strontium-90 is instead, this is because it has many characteristics similar to Calcium[11]. As said before, stable isotopes of Strontium do little or no harm to the body, it is only the radioactive radioisotopes, such as Strontium-90 which do5. Once inside the bones and body, it starts to release beta radiation as it decays, damaging the DNA11. Once the DNA of the cells is damaged, the cells duplicate themselves, creating more "dumb" cells, which serve no purpose except for taking up space and getting into the way of "healthy" cells. Also it can start to produce cancerous tumors, which get in the way of organs, thereby preventing them from carrying out their proper functions. Living near nuclear weapon detonation sites or living near nuclear power plants, strongly increases the chance of acquiring cancer6. Finally, bone cancer is not the only type of cancer caused by radioactive Strontium-90. Other types of cancers include lung cancer and nose cancer, especially if large quantities of the isotope is breathed in9.

Also, radioactive Strontium-90 can reduce blood cells to a dangerous level[12]. This is because as Strontium-90 finds its way into bone, it releases harmful beta radiation, damaging nearby tissues and bone marrow12. Bone marrow is the most important source of blood cells, both red and white, the consequences can be disastrous12. Many problems can occur with reduced blood cells. Reduced blood cell levels can cause tiredness and dizziness, because the body is not receiving sufficient oxygen or nutrients12. Also the body cannot effectively fight new infections or diseases, since white blood cells fight infections, which Strntium-90 reduces12. Finally, if someone receives a cut, it may not clot properly or quick enough, causing excessive blood loss and abnormal bleeding, due to the reduced blood clotting enzyme12.

Also, radioactive Strontium-90 can kill or mutate embryos or fetuses in pregnant women[13]. If a pregnant woman is exposed to high levels of radioactive Strontium-90, the isotope is transferred and accumulates in the bones of the mother, where it is carried away and transferred to the dividing cells of the fetus or embryo, thereby causing some serious damage13. The beta radiation released from the radioisotope can damage or mutate the cells of the growing embryo or fetus13. Leukemia is one of the diseases that a newborn child could be born with, if earlier in its development, the radioisotope lodges itself near the bone marrow where system cells are forming blood cells13. Also, Strontium-90 can damage the central nervous, hormonal and immune systems by cellular damage, causing low birth weight, premature births, and other birth defects13. Finally, the radioisotope can cause serious damage to the brain of the developing embryo or fetus, the neurons in the brain get damaged by the radiation, which in return can cause attention deficit disorder (A.D.D), autism, academic failure, and an inability to control anger, later on in life[14].

Finally, the radioactivity of the radioisotope Strontium-90, makes it an ideal weapon for mass destruction, such as dirty bombs or nuclear weapons[15]. Because the radioisotope has such a long half life of 28.6 years4, the detonation of a nuclear weapon means that the radioisotope could remain "alive" for tens of years after the detonation, endangering the exposed area for tens of years. The isotope is a common "junk" product of a nuclear explosion[16]. Many countries have nuclear weapons, such as North Korea, Israel, the U.S, and Russia, and many are not afraid to use their weapons if threatened. Also, the detonation of a nuclear weapon would be disastrous, as high levels of Strontium-90 would be released into the air and ground, effecting perhaps hundreds of thousands of people. Finally, because Strontium-90 is highly available to anyone who wants to cause aggression or harm against a country or people, it could cause hundreds of thousands of innocents to die immediately from the deadly radiation emitted. Because many nuclear sites in Russia are unprotected, it could easily get into the wrong hands.

Therefore, the radioactive isotope Strontium-90 can cause serious consequences to the health of human beings. First and foremost, being exposed to large doses of the isotope can cause bone cancer by the radiation it produces10, it can also produce cancerous tumors, and other cancers as well such as nose and lung cancer9. Also, it can reduce blood cell levels12, causing dizziness and tiredness12, due to reduced oxygen deliverance12, also the body is unable to fight new disease or infections due to the loss of white blood cells and cannot properly clot a cut12, causing abnormal bleeding12. Also, the radioisotope can mutate or kill an embryo or fetus13, it can cause leukemia in new borns13, also it can cause low birth weight, premature births, and other birth defects13, finally, it can seriously damage the brain of a developing embryo or fetus, causing autism, A.D.D, etc, later on in life14. Finally, the radioisotope can be used to make weapons of mass destruction15, the detonation of a nuclear weapon could contaminate an area for years, also the radioisotope could be released into the air and ground, affecting hundreds of thousands of people, finally, since the isotope is easy to acquire, it could be used by the wrong hands to kill hundreds of thousands of people. Therefore, the radioactive isotope Strontium-90 can cause serious consequences to the health of human beings.

[1] Wikipedia. "Strotium". Wikipedia Copyright 2005. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strontium>. Pages: 1-2

(September 17, 2005)

[2]CBWInfo. "Radiological Agent: Strontium-90".www.cbwinfo.com/Radiological/sr90.shtml>. (September 17, 2005) Pg: 1-5

3 ATSDR Information Center. "Public Health Statement for Strontium". April 2004.http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs159.html>(September 17, 2005). Pg: 2

4 ATSDR Information Center. "Public Health Statement for Strontium"..April 2004.

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs159.html>. (September 17, 2005)Pg: 3

5 ATSDR Information Center. "Public Health Statement for Strontium". April 2004. (September 17, 2005)

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs159.html>(September 17, 2005). Pg: 5

6 CBWInfo. "Radiological Agent: Strontium-90". (September 17, 2005) www.cbwinfo.com/Radiological/sr90.shtml>.Pg:4

[7]Wikipedia. "Strotium". Wikipedia Copyright 2005. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strontium>. (September 17, 2005).Pg: 2

[8]ATSDR Information Center. "Public Health Statement for Strontium". April 2004. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs159.html>. (September 17, 2005).Pg:2

[9]ATSDR Information Center. "Frequently asked health questions about strontium". April 2004. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts159.html>. (September 17, 2005).Pgs: 2-3

[10]United States Environmental Protection Agency. "Strontium".September 16th, 2005. (September 17, 2005).http://www.epa.gov/radiation/radionuclides/strontium.htm>. Pg:3

[11]Ernest Sternglass. Mindfully.org. "Strontium-90 and Human Health". November 18 2003. (September 17, 2005).http://www.euradcom.org/2003/execsumm.htm>.Pg:1

[12]ATSDR Information Center. "Public Health Statement for Strontium". April 2004.

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs159.html>. (September 17, 2005).Pg: 7

13Ernest Sternglass. Mindfully.org. "Strontium-90 and Human Health". November 18 2003.< www.mindfully.org/Nucs/2003/Strontium-90-Sternglass8nov03.htm >..(September 17, 2005). Pg:1

[14]Ernest Sternglass. Mindfully.org. "Strontium-90 and Human Health". November 18 2003.< www.mindfully.org/Nucs/2003/Strontium-90-Sternglass8nov03.htm >. (September 17, 2005)..Pg:2

[15]Ernest Sternglass. Mindfully.org. "Strontium-90 and Human Health". www.mindfully.org/Nucs/2003/Strontium-90-Sternglass8nov03.htm >. (September 17, 2005). Pg:2

[16]Wikipedia. "Strotium". Wikipedia Copyright 2005. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strontium>. (September 17, 2005). Pg: 2