Caesium radioisotopes

Belli, M., A. Drigo, S. Menegon, A. Menin, P. Nazzi, U. Sansone, and M. Toppano. 1989. Transfer of Chernobyl fall-out caesium radioisotopes in the cow food chain. Sci. Total Environ. 85 169-177. 

Kliment, V. 1991. Contamination of pork by caesium radioisotopes. Jour. Environ. Radioactiv. 13 117-124. 

Kliment, V. Bucina, 1. 1990. Contamination of food in Czechoslovakia by caesium radioisotopes from the Chernobyl accident. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 12, 167-178. 

Lujaniene et al. (1997) reported that the activity median aerodynamic diameter, AMAD, of the soluble aerosols of Cs of Chernobyl origin varied in the range 0.10 to 0.86 pm at Vilnius, Lithuania (54°41 N, 25°19 E), and the size of caesium radioisotopes stuck to insoluble aerosol particles in all the samples was similar (about 1 pm). 

Haywood, S.M. (1987) Revised generalized derived limits for radioisotopes of strontium, iodine, caesium, plutonium, americium and caesium. Report NRPB-GS8. National Radiological Protection Board, Chilton, Oxon. 

Radionuclides classified as activation products are created in nuclear reactors and other nuclear devices by the reactions of neutrons with fuel and construction materials. Activation products include the isotopes of the transuranic elements and radioisotopes of hydrogen, carbon, caesium, cobalt, iron, manganese, zinc, and a host of other radionuclides, all of which should be recognised and considered in determining the environmental pathways to human exposure. 

Following the Chernobyl incident in 1986, many different radioisotopes were released. Some, such as iodine-131, had decayed almost completely in a matter of several weeks. However others, such as strontium-90 (% = 29 years) and caesium-137 (ti = 30 years), will remain in food chains and the soil for over 300 years. 

A nuclear incident occurs when the process of fission takes place, resulting in the release of many different radioactive isotopes. Such incidents involve nuclear bombs or nuclear reactors. Nuclear incidents characteristically produce very high levels of radiation including neutrons as well as radioisotopes including strontium, caesium and iodine. 

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